Now, normally, my posts with similar titles are a good-natured poke at motorsport around the globe...but not this time. I've decided to use this instead to give my kudos to Marcos Ambrose on a truly incredible weekend (all the photos are from his website by the way).
While Cup qualifying got rained out, the Nationwide series did manage some practice and Marcos put up times in the top ten which would ordinarily be expected given his road course background. But this was no ordinary NW field...I think there were 20 drivers doing double duty and while Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon weren't in the NW cars, guys like Kyle Busch, Robby Gordon and Kevin Harvick were so you couldn't say this was going to be a walk in the park for the Aussie.
Ambrose leads the way from Busch, Kenseth and Harvick.
Saturday morning came and went, with Marcos qualifying 12th for the NW race and being amongst the frontrunners, if not the frontrunner, in Cup practices...this was starting to look like Sonoma all over again, but would he get that storybook finish?
It didn't look that way as he got shuffled a bit at the start of the NW race. Jeff Burton lost it in front of him (whether or not Marcos tapped him I don't know...the replays were inconclusive but he looked to be too far back to have given Jeff a touch), he sent Sam Hornish Jr into a spin when Sam didn't get good traction in the esses while Marcos did and then with about 15 laps to go, he sideswiped a backmarker.
But, like most fairytales, one has to overcome adversity before the happy ending and this was no different.
His luck changed with 33 laps remaining. As Ambrose pulled into his pit box to get service on his final stop for the day, the caution flew so he (and Ryan Newman who pitted at the same time) escaped without penalty. Carl Edwards then divebombed Clint Bowyer on the restart allowing Marcos to gain a couple more spots in the ensuing chaos. Indeed, by the time the pitstops were all sorted, Marcos was in the top five and had more fuel than the cars in front of him.
Marcos taking the chequered flag.
They say that to finish first, first you have to finish and that rang true as the doorslamming battle between Burton and Busch meant that Ambrose and Jimmie Johnson were able to close down the gap. When Burton made his retaliatory move on Busch, that lifted Marcos to third behind Jeff and Jimmie. Unable to keep up with their pace, Marcos seemingly cruised along saving a little fuel and I imagine gave a huge smile when, first Johnson and then Burton ran out of gas and Marcos took the lead for good with three laps left.
And so, in his 59th start in the 59 car, Marcos Ambrose became the first Australian to win in the Nationwide series and got a tremendous reception after his on-track victory celebration. In nice gestures, Carl Edwards paid tribute to him when interviewed after the race, Kyle Busch gave him a handshake on the podium and even Jack Roush congratulated him on a job well done.
Not only did he smoke those tyres good, he also kept the car off the wall on that narrow front straight!
That's generally where the story says 'The End' right? Ahh, no...not in this case.
After starting shotgun on the field (ignoring those guys sent to the back for engine changes and whatnot...if you want to get picky, then I think he actually started 41st), Marcos stormed his way through the field to be running 15th after 23 laps. The final cycle of pitstops came and went and the #21 Ford Fusion was inside the top ten...but could he keep it going or would similar misfortune strike him like at Infineon?
With a slipping clutch and fading brakes, Marcos passed Martin Truex Jr for fourth and inherited third when Newman ran wide in turn one before 'the big one' happened behind. That allowed his brakes to cool down but that clutch was going to be an issue since the guy behind him, Juan Montoya, isn't well known for his patience. Ambrose went to the inside on the restart, telling Juan that if he wanted past, he'd have to go around the outside...something the Columbian did try on the final restart and ended up having to battle Truex allowing Marcos some breathing room as he closed in on Tony Stewart.
Marcos took the #21 to heights not seen by the team in over three years.
That was where the story ended as Ambrose finished behind Tony and Kyle, giving the Wood Brothers their best finish since 2005 and the best ever finish by an Australian in the Cup series (previous was a 18th by Tony Spanos at Martinsville in 1987 apparently).
Now, I'll be the first to say not to expect a similar result from Marcos in next weekend's Cup race at Michigan since, despite Ambrose saying he doesn't want to be known just for his road racing expertise, he has to be realistic and knows that's when he's able to show off his talent, just like Robby Gordon. But he showed last weekend that sometimes you do get that fairytale ending and nice guys don't have to finish last.
Congratulations, Marcos. You've made Australia, and this Aussie in particular, proud, mate.
Hey, I'm no Aussie, but he is pure heart and makes all of us racing fans proud. He raced clean and fair all the while showing off his road course prowess. Kudos is right!
You've done an excellent job here Tez, grasping the emotion this story deserved. Thank you.
I had goosebumps watching the last 20 laps of the NW race and I imagine I will have them again when I get to watch the replay of the Cup one (I missed that since I wasn't home)....does this make him a Cupwhacker then? He can't be (what is formally called) a Buschwhacker since he doesn't run all the Cup races, lol
He's also going to be the only person to have beaten Kyle on a road course....now that IS something given the season Kyle's having!
You will enjoy the Cup race ending as well, just as emotional. From a Smoke fan, I was hoping Marcos would get around him.
Hey, you know what, if williamwilman was still around doing his wonderful Trifecta - you and I would have had a knock down drag out over picking Marcos!
Ahh...Yes... The #### is off his back. He had a great weekend. I hope this leads to a full time ride in cup. He has shown he has the abbility to run up to the front.
Marcos would make a good full time driver. Will Wood brothers keep him? Will another team looking to add maybe give him a shot? Time will tell.
He put the famous STP car back in victory lane. Been a while. Even if not Petty. Also had the famous WoodBrothers breathing on victory lane. So close maybe next time.
oh yes, that would have been a battle royale! Ambrose, Dixon and Ambrose would have been my picks and I'd have accepted any penalty points knowing the results of the 3 races :P
I think I know what you mean though; he was the feelgood story this weekend since everyone loves an underdog :)
noah; I read a comment on the yahoo messageboards saying the same thing - "wrong car, wrong number, wrong era but very nice to see that paint scheme in victory lane again," lol
edit: I've updated the post to include the post race press conferences by the way...just in case anyone wants to see those.
Last edited by Tezgm99 on August 11th at 10:09 PM.
Tez really good job on the race recap. Reading the story put me right back in my chair watching the race again. You really need enlighten us more and write more posts.
Marcos has also shown that he can handle the road courses which is a plus in both series. It was really awesome to see the STP paint job back in victory lane again. Crocodile Dundee better watch because there is a new Aussie in town.
Last edited by frevr3fan on August 11th at 10:14 PM.
frevr; sadly my writing (bad grammar and all!) skills only extend as far as whatever topic I can really 'feel into'...I couldn't do what klv, tyler and jon do with their race recaps every week since I need something to grab onto during the races and go "right, there's a good post in that."
I suppose the fact that this one was all about Marcos means I did get that little extra emotion like Lori and yourself have pointed out though...thanks for that :)
xbul; long time no see, my friend! And you're right, he certainly proved he could drive this weekend!
Last edited by Tezgm99 on August 11th at 10:34 PM.
Excellent piece, Tez. I really enjoyed reading that and massive congrats to Marcos, his team and you and your fellow Aussies. A bloody fantastic weekend for Marcos and every bit deserved. I'm with Lori, I'd have been more than happy to see Marcos pull the double off ... maybe next time. :o)
Marcos has officially arrived. Seems like everyone (except for Boris Said) has commented on what a nice dude he is. There was a point there in the Cup race that he could have nudged Stewart out of the way. Kudos to him for not waking the hibernating bear.
thanks, RC...I didn't believe my eyes at first when I saw on the foxtrax that he ended up third and had to read some comments to confirm it before I allowed myself a big grin! :D
Total; wow, great pikkie, wonder who came up with that quote....*shifty eyes* :P
moseby; I think we might have been saying that here last year when Robby gave him a shot in his second car but it got rained out....guess fate has a funny way of doing things since he made the field this time due to the washout, lol
G'day mate! Great stuff Tez. The restart after the "Big One" was very interesting, and Ambrose made an excellent showing. He was mixing it up real good with the top dogs in Sprint Cup road racing. And you're right, the fact that Montoya had to battle with Truex Jr was a blessing for Marcos.
Hopefully this is a sign of bigger and better things for him in Sprint Cup racing.
He can walk on water baby, The only thing bad is he is a super nice guy like Mark Martin. In most times in racing the nice guys finish second. I wish Tony would have gave him the chance to go and try Kyle. That STP look great in victory lane. Congrads to your hometown boy on a fantastic weekend.
I bet with both races he passed more drivers then anyone in the past.
Cheers
Tez with this post that you just wrote. You have the skills to do it. All you have to do is take the time and write exactly what you feel. Pretty soon it will just flow. Im looking forward to your next one. Im even gonna start rooting for Marcos so that we can read more from you.
Considering he did not have the best car in the Cup race, I would say he did an excellent job finishing where he did. Amazing what he did in a Woods Bros. car considering "other" drivers in that 21 usually finish in the rear of the field.
Now if he can just get one of the big bucks cars to compete in.
Tez is a rare creature; an Australian who was living in New Zealand before moving to Canada. He's also a Civil Engineer who is hoping to spend his Monday to Friday sitting in front of a computer surfing the inter...uh, working hard for an Engineering Consultant or Contractor when he finds a job. His heart is torn between his two loves; F1 and NASCAR.
Due to his high interest in those, his blogs will likely focus on them with the occasional foray into sports that don't get much (if any) mention on this website. All blogs and/or comments will more than likely have his usual dollop of sarcasm and general Aussie spin on them.
Amazingly, he also managed to score 2 MiB nominations on consecutive days (August 5 & 6, 2007) after announcing he had been keeping track of them...he's considering hiding under his bed as a result.
