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Ambrose will have 30 fans from his homeland at the 1.5-mile speedway this weekend on the second Marcos Ambrose NASCAR Tour. With this May’s tour a sell-out, a second tour is planned for August this year (see marcosambrose.com for further details).

It is also a race where Ambrose can race in front of some of the workshop-based staff at JTG Racing, based in Harrisburg close to Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Ambrose enters this weekend’s race off the back of a top 10 finish at Darlington Raceway two weeks ago, an effort the driver from Launceston, Tasmania is keen to repeat in Charlotte.

Ambrose tested the #59 Kingsford Hickory Ford Fusion in an official NASCAR Nationwide Series two-day test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last week, giving he and his crew vital set-up and development time ahead of this weekend’s race.

Ambrose set respectable times during the test, but the set-up knowledge was the crucial benefit gained from testing.

Ambrose came home in 20th position at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in last year’s Memorial Day weekend Nationwide Series event. Charlotte was also the scene of Ambrose’s third-ever NASCAR event, when he qualified third in his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event on an intermediate track.

Marcos Ambrose - #59 Kingsford Hickory Ford Fusion

“It’s a unique situation to go into a race having two days of testing there the week before,” said Ambrose.

“It’s gives us a good starting point for our car and we have some idea of the direction we will take on set-up.

“Our team is very keen to post a good result for all our sponsors and supporters this weekend in Charlotte. We’ve all been working very hard and coming off a top 10 at Darlington we really want to keep the momentum going forward.

“Racing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway is a special feeling, because you really get the feel for it being a home race. Some of the really hard working folks back at the JTG Racing workshop can come out and cheer us on and I’d love to give them a good result.

“We’ve also got a bunch of Aussie fans over on our second tour and it’s a long way to come, so I’d like to deliver for them.

“I really enjoy giving the Australian fans a close-up look at NASCAR and showing them what it’s all about. It’s such a great sport and the Australian fans love it even more once they get a first-hand look at it.”

Lowe's Motor Speedway Testing Results:

RESULTS: Tuesday 13 May Evening Session
1. #60B Carl Edwards 29.555
2. #19 Chase Miller 29.808
3. #9 Kasey Kahne 29.862
4. #11 Jason Keller 29.903
5. #60 Carl Edwards 29.924
6. #6 David Ragan 29.927
7. #1 Mike Bliss 29.930
8. #2 Clint Bowyer 29.948
9. #10 Brian Vickers 29.950
10. #38 Jason Leffler 29.983
15. #59 Marcos Ambrose 30.088

RESULTS: Tuesday 13 May Afternoon Session
1. #9 Kasey Kahne 29.867
2. #60B Carl Edwards 29.990
3. #19 Chase Miller 20.028
4. #60 Carl Edwards 30.110
5. #40B Bryan Clauson 30.124
6. #2 Clint Bowyer 30.172
7. #1 Mike Bliss 30.244
8. #29B Stephen Leicht 30.257
9. #38 Jason Leffler 30.277
10. #25B Bobby Hamilton J! r 30.316
24. #59 Marcos Ambrose 30.529

RESULTS: Monday 12 May Evening Session
1. #20 Denny Hamlin 29.635
2. #60B Carl Edwards 29.668
3. #9 Kasey Kahne 29.679
4. #16 Greg Biffle 29.718
5. #19 Chase Miller 29.744
6. #64 David Stremme 29.823
7. #59 Marcos Ambrose 29.835
8. #18 Johnny Benson 29.873
9. #29B Jeff Burton 29.889
10. #88B Brad Keselowski 29.893

RESULTS: Monday 12 May Afternoon Session
1. #20 Denny Hamlin 30.184
2. #9 Kasey Kahne 30.265
3. #64 David Stremme 30.275
4. #60B Carl Edwards 30.288
5. #88 Brad Keselowski 30.291
6. #10 Brian Vickers 30.292
7. #1 Mike Bliss 30.335
8. #47 Kelly Bires 30.359
9. #64B David Stremme 30.361
10. #12 Sam Hornish Jr 30.446
16. #59 Marcos Ambrose! 30.513

2008 NASCAR Nationwide Serie! s Standi ngs - After Race 12 of 35
1. Clint Bowyer 1740
2. Kyle Busch 1628
3. Carl Edwards 1590
4. David Reutimann 1572
5. Mike Bliss 1545
6. David Ragan 1521
7. Brad Keselowski 1500
8. Jason Leffler 1480
9. Mike Wallace 1385
10. David Stremme 1327
15. Marcos Ambrose 1249

2008 NNS Prizemoney after 12 races:
Marcos Ambrose: US$395,671 (A$420,163)

RACE SCHEDULE
Local North Carolina (US Eastern) Times
Practice 1
Thursday 22 May 2008
1:00pm – 2:30pm

Final Practice
Thursday 22 May 2008
6:00pm – 7:00pm

Qualifying
Saturday 24 May 2008 (*note no track activity on Friday)
3:45pm

Race – 200 laps
Saturday 24 May 2008
7:30pm US Eastern

UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
Saturday 24 May 2008
ESPN2
7:00pm US Eastern
AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Standard Times
Practice 1
Friday 23 May 2008
3:00am – 4:30am

Final Practice
Friday 23 May 2008
8:00am – 9:00am

Qualifying
Sunday 25 May 2008 (*note day off)
5:45am

Race – 200 laps
Sunday 25 May 2008
9:30am US Eastern

AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Sunday 25 May 2008
Ten HD
9:00am – 12:00pm AEST

AUSTRALIAN TV REPLAY
Saturday 31 May 2008
Ten HD
1:00pm – 2:00pm AEST

ABOUT LOWE’S MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Track Length: 1.5 miles
Race Distance: 200 laps – 300 miles
Degree of Banking in Turns: 24 degrees
Degree of Banking in Straights: 5 degrees

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Nationwide Race Winne! r: Kasey Kahne
Defending Nationwide Polesitter: Matt Ken! seth
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Race Finish: 20th
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Qualifying: 17th

Marcos Ambrose is all smiles in Mexico City

Marcos Ambrose drives the #59 Kingsford Hickory Ford Fusion on the high line at Darlington Raceway