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Ambrose looks to carry test form into Richmond |
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Thursday, 01 May 2008 |
Marcos Ambrose is hoping that impressive testing form at Richmond International
Raceway in March will carry through to the Lipton Tea 250 in Richmond, Virginia
this weekend.
Ambrose had a productive two-day test at the 0.75-mile
oval when NASCAR Nationwide Series teams tested at Richmond on March 24-25.
Ambrose had a productive two-day test at the 0.75-mile oval when NASCAR
Nationwide Series teams tested at Richmond on March 24-25.
The
Australian found improvement in the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion over the
course of the two days, with impressive times on the second day of the test
netting the 31-year-old 13th fastest in the afternoon session and then fourth
fastest in the evening session on the final day.
That fourth fastest
time under lights at Richmond could prove crucial, as this weekend’s 250-lap
race will be also be held at night.
Having a car that is strong right
from the beginning of proceedings will be vital in Richmond, with practice,
qualifying and the Lipton Tea 250 all held on the same day, giving teams minimal
time to work on improvements and contemplate car set-up.
Ambrose is
within reach of a place in the top 10 in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series
standings as he works hard at turning around a below par start to the season.
Second place in Mexico City a fortnight ago gave Ambrose his best-ever
NASCAR finish and last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway Ambrose looked on
track for another strong result until becoming an innocent victim of a massive
15-car accident.
Marcos Ambrose - #59 Kingsford Hickory Ford
Fusion
“You are really going to need to have things going right from
the start of practice in Richmond,” said Ambrose.
“It’s a one-day race
and you have even less time to get the car right. It’s going to be a weekend
where there is a little bit of luck involved.
“We are just going to
start off with the set-up we had at the end of the Richmond test in March. On
the second day there we got a lot of improvement out of the car and in the last
session we were a top five car.
“Hopefully that speed carries through to
this weekend. I’m really keen to keep racking up those points and when the
opportunity comes, really push hard for a strong top five finish.”
2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Standings - After Race 10 of 35
1. Clint Bowyer 1427
2. Car Edwards 1400
3. Kyle Busch 1388
4.
David Reutimann 1298
5. Mike Bliss 1282
6. David Ragan 1274
7. Brad
Keselowski 1252
8. Jason Leffler 1227
9. Mike Wallace 1173
10. Bobby
Hamilton Jr 1055
14. Marcos Ambrose 1022
2008 NNS Prizemoney
after 10 races:
Marcos Ambrose: US$347,760 (A$372,816)
RACE
SCHEDULE
Local Virginia (US Eastern) Times
Practice
Friday 2 May 2008
8:45am – 10:55am
Qualifying
Friday 2 May
2008
4:05pm
Race – 250 laps
Friday 2 May 2008
7:30pm US
Eastern
UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
Saturday 2 May 2008
ESPN2
7:00pm US Eastern
AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Standard Times
Practice
Friday 2 May 2008
10:45pm – ! 12:55am
Qualifying
Saturday 3 May 2008
6:05am
Race – 250 laps
Saturday 3 May 2008
9:30am US Eastern
AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Saturday 3 May 2008
Ten HD
9:00am – 12:00am AEST
AUSTRALIAN TALLADEGA TV REPLAY
Saturday 3 May 2008
Ten HD
1:00pm – 2:00pm AEST
ABOUT
RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Track
Length: 0.75 miles (1.207km)
Race Distance: 250 laps – 187.5 miles
(301.75km)
Degree of Banking in Turns: 14 degrees
Degree of Banking in
Front Straight: 8 degrees
Degree of Banking in Back Straight: 2 degrees
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Nationwide
Race Winner: Clint Bowyer
Defending Nationwide Polesitter: Denny Hamlin
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Race Finish: 26th
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Qualifying:
40th
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Marcos Ambrose sits in the #59 Kingsford
Hickory Ford Fusion while the JTG Racing crew work away
Ambrose runs in the pack at
Talladega Superspeedway
Marcos Ambrose was caught up in a
15-car crash at Talladega Superspeedway
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