CARPENTIER FORCED TO SETTLE WITH 33rd-PLACE FINISH AT WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Patrick Carpentier, subbing for Michael Waltrip, felt like he was a moving target during today’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International. Having qualified 17th in a back-up car, the Canadian driver worked his way up to 12th position before being spun out by an overzealous driver. It was followed by three more similar incidents with the worst happening on lap 69 that put the NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota behind the wall for repairs. The team got back out to finish in 33rd position.

“We had a great car,” said Carpentier after the race. “I cannot believe the number of times I got spun out today. I was getting to think that maybe I made a few people angry at Infineon Raceway and it was payback. Some days you are just the bug on the windshield.

“The NAPA team did a great job for me today. Bootie (Barker) made good calls on the adjustments because each time we pitted, the car got better. It’s a shame our result did not match the quality of car we had.”

For the second week in a row, rain postponed the race until Monday. Jimmie Johnson led the field to the green flag with JTG-Daugherty Racing’s Marcos Ambrose on his heels. It took just 21 laps for the Aussie to take the lead and produce impressive lap times. The NAPA Toyota was not far behind in 12th position. Unfortunately, a top-10 was taken away when David Stremme took out Carpentier on lap 21. The contact put the NAPA team back to 37th position. Then three laps later, the caution was back out for another Stremme move. This time he collected the cars of Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick.

The race restarted on lap 26. Carpentier battled back moving from 37th to 22nd by lap 50. All the hard work fell by the side when Ryan Newman lost his brakes and struck the NAPA Toyota. The contact cost the NAPA team 11 positions. Despite the setback, Carpentier was still fast and determined to get back into contention.

A spectacular-looking crash involving Kasey Kahne, Sam Hornish Jr. and Jeff Gordon occurred on lap 63. Kahne’s car broke loose making contact with Hornish and Gordon. The Hornish and Gordon machines slammed hard into the retaining walls. Both drivers were OK, but their cars were demolished. Kahne was able to continue on as debris forced NASCAR to red flag the race just as Carpentier entered onto pit road which was closed. It caused the NAPA car to be penalized and put back to the tail end of the lead-lap cars, but it allowed the team to visually evaluate the car and a cooling-system problem.

“It was so hot in my car that it took my breath away,” described the driver.

When the race was back under yellow, the team put on four fresh tires and attempted to fix the cooling system. When the NAPA Toyota returned to the track, it was scored in 30th position. Kyle Busch was the leader.

The green flag waved on lap 66. As before, Carpentier wasted no time in picking off valuable real estate. He climbed from 30th to 24th position in just four laps. Then on lap 70, the car of Elliott Sadler spun on the track. Carpentier was in position to clear Sadler’s car but was suddenly stuck from behind by the car driven by David Ragan. The contact slammed the NAPA Toyota into Sadler. The damage was significant and after evaluating the NAPA Toyota on pit road, the team had no choice but to go behind the wall for repairs. Barker’s goal was to repair the car before Sadler’s team in hopes of picking up one spot on the track. The plan appeared to work as Carpentier had half a lap on Sadler’s damaged machine. But shortly after the white flag waved, the NAPA Toyota was spun out one last time by Ragan.

“I really appreciated everything the NAPA team did for me today,” added Carpentier. “They worked hard to get me back out there to try and salvage a finish. But wouldn’t you know we got hit again on the final lap.”

JTG-Daugherty Racing’s Marcos Ambrose led eight laps of the race and was looking to make the Watkins Glen sweep after winning Saturday’s Nationwide event. But Tony Stewart played the spoiler relegating Ambrose to a second-place finish.

Finishing behind Stewart and Ambrose to round out the top-10 were Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Max Papis, Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin.

As for Michael Waltrip Racing driver David Reutimann, he finished where he started in 25th place.

This week, Michael Waltrip returns to the NAPA Toyota for the second and final race of the season at Michigan International Speedway. Broadcast coverage of the Carfax 400 will get underway Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. It can also be heard on Sirius XM Satellite Radio and MRN.

REUTIMANN FINISHES 25TH AT WATKINS GLEN

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (August 10, 2009) – David Reutimann arrived in Watkins Glen 121 points out of 12th place in the points standings and in need of a solid finish to keep from falling too far behind with only a handful of races before the cutoff for the Chase. While Monday’s “Heluva Good! at The Glen” might not have gone as well as he hoped, Reutimann’s 25th-place finish was enough to keep him within striking distance of the top 12 in points.

To prepare for the second road course on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup schedule David Reutimann spent a lot of time training with road-course specialists and teammates Patrick Carpentier and Marcos Ambrose. “The more practice you get the better prepared you become,” said Reutimann. “Basically, each additional lap I make at a road course the more I learn about how I should drive these tracks.”

Starting 25th, Reutimann struggled with a loose Aaron’s Dream Machine, but crew chief Rodney Childers and the Aaron’s crew went to work on Reutimann’s first pit stop on lap 17. The No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine got four new tires and an air pressure adjustment to help the handling.

When the second caution came out on lap 23 Childers opted to keep his driver on the track. Knowing that passing is difficult at Watkins Glen, this pit strategy would work in their favor, pushing Reutimann up to 16th.

On lap 63, NASCAR threw a red flag, stopping the race action to clean up the debris from a horrific accident involving Sam Hornish, Jeff Gordon, and Jeff Burton. When the race restarted Reutimann was in 17th.

During the late stages of the race Reutimann fell back into the 29th position after getting a bump from the No. 08 of Boris Said, but was able to battle back to finish 25th.

“It’s a little disappointing,” said Reutimann. “I was hoping to gain some ground on the Chase contenders and it looked like that might happen, but we did the best with the car we had at the end. We’ll regroup and I know Rodney and the guys will give me a great Aaron’s Dream Machine for Michigan next week.”

After Monday’s 25th-place finish, Reutimann maintained his 16th position in the driver’s points. With four races left before the Chase, he’s only 155 points behind 12th place Matt Kenseth.

Tony Stewart held off Reutimann’s teammate Marcos Ambrose to pick up the win. Rounding out the top five were Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle.

Next week the Sprint Cup series returns to Michigan International Speedway for the Carfax 400 on Sunday, August 16. ESPN will provide television coverage beginning at 1 p.m.

Ambrose Pulls Double Duty at Site of first NASCAR Victory

Watkins Glen, NY (August 5, 2009) – Certain places stand out on a driver’s résumé’ and Watkins Glen International is definitely one that sticks out for Australian driver Marcos Ambrose. Last year, he became a first-time NASCAR race winner taking the checkered flag in the Nationwide Series Zippo 200 driving for JTG-Daugherty Racing owned by Tad and Jodi Geschickter and Brad Daugherty. The victory was exoneration for the Tasmania-born two-time V8 Supercar champion.

“It was a big relief to be able to win my first NASCAR race because I drug my family halfway around the world,” said Ambrose, who passed Jeff Burton’s car with five laps to go. “Then the Cup race on Sunday felt like a win too.”

For his first Cup race at The Glen, he started 43rd and finished third in only his third start. Ambrose’s impressive run with Wood Brothers landed him his career-best finish by crossing the finish line in third-place.

Now, Ambrose is pulling double duty again at the 2.45-mile road course. On Saturday, he climbs behind the wheel of the No. 47 STP Octane Booster Toyota Camry fielded by JTG-Daugherty Racing and looks to repeat with support from his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) crew chief Frank Kerr and his No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota Racing pit crew.
Then on Sunday, Ambrose aims to supersede his career-best finish matched at Sonoma (Infineon Raceway) this season.

“We have had some great runs on ovals, superspeedways and at a road course,” Ambrose said. “This is only our first year and we are still getting our legs under us. We had no expectations and we are pleasantly surprised at our progress in such a short amount of time.”

Ambrose’s progression is obvious and this past weekend at Pocono Raceway he was on track for another top-10 finish, but he was taken out of contention.

“We finished sixth at Pocono the first time there and we wanted to do better,” Ambrose said. “We were running in the top-10 and moving forward until we were collected in an accident. Not sure what happened there. We were running in the top-10 and all of a sudden David (Reutimann) got turned. I had nowhere to go.”

“If he (Denny) would have checked up just a little, I could have got the Aaron’s Dream Machine straight and we would have been alright,” Reutimann said. “I felt bad for Marcos. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We both had good cars and would have left there with a solid finish.”

JTG-Daugherty Racing has had a solid first half to their first full-time Cup effort. In 21 starts, they have accrued two top-five, five top-10, and 12 top-20 finishes and currently occupy 18th-place in the NSCS championship standings.

Following Pocono, Ambrose left Monday afternoon straight to Dover International Speedway for a two-day Goodyear tire test.

“I’ve been gone from home since Thursday,” Ambrose said. “I miss my family. It’s tough to be away from home when you have two little ones. I’ll have some time with them on Thursday before we fly out to Watkins Glen.”

This Cup business is new to Ambrose and he is still learning how to adapt to the schedule.

“Racing on the Cup level, you can lose a year of not doing things you like to do because you are so intense at the track and you are traveling around the circuit,” Ambrose said. “When I get my chance, I force myself to get out there and do things. Like this past weekend in Pocono, I took my $20 rafts and went fishing. I was pleased with the rafts, but the rain turned the creek into rapids and the fish weren’t biting. The water was high, but we made it down and back safely. I’m not sure what I will get into at Watkins Glen. I don’t think I’ll have much time.”

In addition to Ambrose running the Nationwide and Cup Series events, he will be kicking up some dirt at Black Rock Speedway in Dundee (N.Y.) Friday night.

"I'll have to have some dirt experience before I run the fifth annual Gillette Young Guns Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway,” Ambrose said. “So, that's what I'm trying to do. We’ll have a lot of fun out at Black Rock.”

Live coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Zippo 200 at The Glen on Sunday, August 8th kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen on Sunday, August 9th starts at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also carry the events.

Ambrose Fishing for Victory at Pocono

LONG POND, Penn. (July 28, 2009) – Marcos Ambrose has scored three top-10s in the last seven races and one of those events includes the Pocono 500 where he finished sixth in June at Pocono Raceway.

“We delivered a strong top-10 finish at Pocono earlier this season,” Ambrose said. “Our package was good and we are making it better from what we learned. This weekend we have a great looking new design on our Toyota Camry with iRacing.com to help create awareness about their internet-based racing service to fans. We are looking to deliver a strong finish for them.

On Tuesday, iRacing.com - a motorsport simulation company - announced they will serve as a single-event primary sponsor for the JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 Toyota Camry entry during the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500.

“Our partnership with Marcos to help introduce iRacing to Australia and New Zealand has gone extremely well,” said Steve Myers, iRacing’s executive producer. “So, when this opportunity with his NASCAR team, JTG Daugherty Racing, became available, we jumped at it. With NASCAR-sanctioned online racing being introduced to the iRacing service in less than six months, this seemed like a great way to introduce ourselves to the more than 80,000 NASCAR fans who will attend the race in person and the several million more who will be watching on ESPN.”

Ambrose is optimistic about returning to Pocono Raceway this time with iRacing.com and looks to build on his two top-five and five top-10 finishes.

“I’m optimistic, but I was when we started the race at Indy (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) too and we did not have the finish we desired,” said Ambrose, who finished 22nd. “We’ve learned there are no guarantees in this business, but this has been a strong year for us. Every good event we have from here on out will be a bonus. We are just looking for that breakout race though. Who knows when it is going to happen? It could be Pocono or it could be Watkins Glen International. You just never know.”

“We did miss a chance at Indy,” Ambrose continued. “We qualified 11th and ran inside the top-15 and then it somehow slipped through our fingers. At the end of the race, I’m racing back there racing for a 21st or 22nd-place finish with Jamie McMurray and you know he’s no slouch. Our sport is just that tough.”

Sitting 254 points out of 12th-place in the championship points standings, Ambrose knows where he stands in The Race to the Chase with six races remaining.

“It’s slipping away a little bit,” Ambrose said. “I’m looking at the cars in front of us and it’s virtually impossible to gain points on them. They are all running well and they’ve got experience and momentum on their side. We just want to focus on our job and keep finishing in the top-10 and see how it plays out. We have an outside shot at the very best. For me, I’m going into Pocono and Watkins Glen to win it. If we win a race, things may look different. We are just focused on race by race.”

Ambrose does not want to think about points.

“I don’t want to think about points my first year in NASCAR,” Ambrose said. “For me in racing, the more I think about it, the worse I go. I just put my helmet on and I don’t get ahead of myself. I look back at my previous racing in Europe when I would qualify fifth and wake up in the middle of the night thinking how I was going to pass them all in Turn 1. Then I would start the race and end up taking all four wheels off of it thinking that was really a stupid idea. From those early days of learning about racing, you can’t predict anything that happens around you. You have to drive in the moment. That’s what I try to do. I don’t get bogged down with points or strategy. I just drive it as fast as I can.

“This sport is easy to let the highs get too high and the lows get too low and then you start worrying about the wrong stuff,” Ambrose continued. “It’s all about race by race, lap by lap and driving it as fast as you can and see how it works out.”

To free his mind from worry, Ambrose is adventurous and this weekend at Pocono it is no different.

“I hope I’m here next week because I have a Marcos Ambrose outdoor adventure special in Pocono,” Ambrose said. “The last time we went to Pocono we went trout finishing and we couldn’t find good spots because we didn’t have access. So, this trip I’ve actually bought two $20 rafts from the sporting store and we are going to float down from one bridge to the next. The problem is, they are $20 rafts with a 200 pound frame. I’m not confident I’m going to make it before I put a hole in it. If I don’t make it back, you know why. Having a canoe is too professional. I like to do it the hardest way possible.”

Live coverage of the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 on Sunday, August 2nd begins at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. Also, MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will air the event live.

iRacing, Marcos Ambrose and JTG Daugherty Team Up for Pocono NASCAR Race

BEDFORD, MA (July 28, 2009) – The JTG Daugherty Racing #47 Toyota Camry, driven by Australia’s Marcos Ambrose, will race under iRacing.com colors in this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono International Raceway. The announcement of the single-event tie-up between the race team and the motorsport simulation company, which had been widely rumored, was made today by Steve Myers, iRacing’s executive producer, and Tad Geschickter, co-owner of JTG Daugherty Racing.

“Our partnership with Marcos to help introduce iRacing to Australia and New Zealand has gone extremely well,” said Myers. “So, when this opportunity with his NASCAR team, JTG Daugherty Racing, became available, we jumped at it. With NASCAR-sanctioned online racing being introduced to the iRacing service in less than six months, this seemed like a great way to introduce ourselves to the more than 80,000 NASCAR fans who will attend the race in person and the several million more who will be watching on ESPN.”

Ambrose has racked up four top-10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finishes so far, including a third-place on the Infineon road course at Sonoma, CA, and a sixth-place finish earlier this summer at Pocono. Last year Ambrose scored the team’s first-ever NASCAR Nationwide Series, taking the checkered flag at Watkins Glen.

“We are a sponsor-focused race team, and we’re eager to show the folks at iRacing what that means,” said Geschickter. “Perhaps they’re only joining us for a single race, but we know that Marcos has a close relationship with iRacing and we’re eager to show them what we can do to help them get the word out to NASCAR fans about how much fun it is to race with other fans and professional racing drivers on iRacing’s internet-based racing service.”

While NASCAR-sanctioned racing won’t begin on the iRacing service until early next year, iRacing has already introduced exact digital duplicates of the vehicles raced in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series, that perform exactly as their real-world counterparts do. In addition, iRacing has built, is building or is negotiating to produce digital versions of all the tracks on the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. The use of survey-quality laser scanning and proprietary data-processing yields tracks with millimeter-accuracy and an online experience that is as real as possible and virtually as much fun as driving the car in the physical world.

Myers noted that in celebration of the Pocono sponsorship, iRacing is making a special offer for new subscribers, a $25.00 (half-price) three-month subscription to the service, which includes all of the cars and tracks necessary for oval and road-racing rookie and advanced rookie seasons. “Plus, we’re throwing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup car,” for free Myers said. “That’s an additional $15.00 value.”

According to Myers, while the virtual version of Pocono International Raceway is not yet quite ready to be made available to subscribers to the iRacing service, work is quite advanced and iRacing has been able to supply Ambrose with a pre-release version so that he can get in as many practice laps as necessary before he pulls out of the pits and onto the real-world version of the track.

"I will be getting a head start on the competition by practicing on iRacing before heading to the track to try and get every advantage I can," Ambrose said. “Making sure I’m fully up to speed the first time I roll out of the pits on Friday means that we’ll have more laps to focus on getting the car absolutely right.”

Myers noted that Pocono is unique among the ovals where NASCAR competes in that the track has three distinctly different turns – different banking and radius for each one – making it a particularly challenging one to learn. “In that way, Pocono is kind of like the road courses at Watkins Glen and Sonoma, but with all left-hand turns.”

So no one should be surprised to see Ambrose sitting in a simulator next to the JTG Daugherty Racing hauler in the garage area when his iRacing car isn’t on the track. He’ll just be getting ready for the next practice or qualifying session.


About JTG Daugherty
JTG Daugherty Racing is a sponsor-focused race team that runs both NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup entries. By combining the full-service marketing expertise of ST Motorsports and JTG Daugherty’s extensive racing experience, it is uniquely equipped to drive sponsor’s business. The company’s industry-leading client-retention rate is a testament to its commitment to building partnerships and delivering value.

About iRacing.com
iRacing.com was founded in September of 2004 by Dave Kaemmer and John Henry. Kaemmer was co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, developers of award-winning racing simulations including NASCAR Racing: 2003 Season and Grand Prix Legends. Henry is principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group – the co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing – as well as an avid simracer. The iRacing team combines more than 100 years of real-world racing experience with more than 50 years of successful racing simulation development. The company has developed numerous corporate relationships in the motorsport industry, including agreements to develop track simulations with International Speedway Corporation, Speedway Motorsports, and Panoz Motor Sports Group and vehicles with General Motors, Riley Technologies, Radical Sportscars, and 600 Racing. iRacing is the official simulation partner of the Sports Car Club of America, Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, Star Mazda Championship, Skip Barber Racing School and Australia’s V8 Super School. Most recently iRacing and NASCAR have announced a partnership to develop NASCAR-sanctioned online racing series. The iRacing service is open to racers and fans of all skill levels from top-level pros to complete beginners. To join in the fun, go to www.iRacing.com.

Marcos Ambrose - Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Preview

INDIANAPOLIS (July 21, 2009) – This season marked Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s celebration of its Centennial Era, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the facility. It is also the 16th running of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and Marcos Ambrose’s second chance to race the No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota with his crew chief Frank Kerr and JTG-Daugherty Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.

The historic 2.5-mile oval is a place like no other that still gives Kerr goose bumps when he steps foot on what he refers to as “hallowed ground.”

“To be honest I do get goose bumps every time I go there,” said Kerr who grew up racing open wheel cars, winning 250 races in divisions such as, USAC, World of Outlaws and All Star (four-time All Star Champion). “It’s just the coolest place in the world and the most historic venue we go to on the circuit. It doesn’t matter how many times you walk into that facility, you are still in awe. Then there is the ‘Yard of Bricks’ at the start-finish line serving as a tribute to the 2.5-mile oval - - the only ones left exposed from the original Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing surface.”

“I’ve been through the museum a hundred times too,” continued Kerr. “Once I was able to take a special tour of the basement and that was really something. It has a lot of old cars like Indy cars, roadsters and much more. There’s stuff down there that has never been on display. To think those guys ran around there at 150 miles per hour or better with them old cars with six inch tires on them is pretty amazing.”

Kerr’s Australian driver, who will be driving the same Toyota he finished sixth with at Pocono Raceway in June, shares his crew chief’s sentiments.

“Frankie’s right, the place is special and I remember growing up watching the Indy 500 in Tasmania wishing I was there,” Ambrose said. “It’s just a big thrill to be able to race the Little Debbie® Toyota at the Brickyard because there’s so much racing history.”

There are many memorable Brickyard moments for both the IRL and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. If you asked Kerr who comes to mind when you talk about the Brickyard, he will jump at the chance to say “why A.J. Foyt, get serious, he’s the real deal.” While Kerr is adamant about the four-time Indy 500 champ, Ambrose is just as serious about four-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears. Danny Sullivan was another racing great that Ambrose mentioned as he discussed the unforgettable 1985 Indy 500 win and spin.

“A.J. was a little before my time, but I really liked watching Rick Mears, who drove for Roger Penske,” Ambrose said. “Danny Sullivan was another standout and I remember his 1985 win. He spun 360 degrees down the south short chute between one and two after passing Mario Andretti for the lead. He recovered from that to come back and win the race.”
Ambrose and Kerr spoke of several monumental moments and this season they are looking to make their own.

“We've had some great runs this year," Ambrose said. "I always said that if I didn’t make it, I’ll just pack up and go home and last year's Allstate 400 was a really important race for me. There was a lot riding on that race. We qualified decent and fortunately it was a breakout race.”

“My first race there was with Robby Gordon and it was an unbelievable feeling to be standing on pit road with all the fans in the stands surrounding you,” Kerr said. “Then I went back there with Marcos last year and I was still mesmerized. It's a place we really want to excel at this weekend.”

It was only Ambrose’s second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start with Kerr last year and they posted a respectable 22nd-place finish in the prestigious event.

“We had a good showing there and we really didn’t have nothing,” Kerr said. “We’ve been running well this season and we have some expectations going into this weekend. We’re bringing the same car we almost had a top-five with at Pocono. Pocono’s turns 2 and 3 are a lot like Indy and Marcos excelled there. We feel like we can have a good run.”

Ambrose and his JTG-Daugherty Racing team compete in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 26th. Live coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway airs on ESPN beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern. Also, IMS and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also air the event live.

Ambrose Captures Fifth Top-10 Finish Of Season at Coke Zero 400 at DIS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2009) – An ailing Marcos Ambrose was all smiles when he climbed from his No. 47 Kingsford® Charcoal Toyota Saturday night after crossing the finish line sixth at Daytona International Speedway in the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola.

“I was sick again this weekend and had to have an IV treatment, but this is one way to clear up a severe cold,” said Ambrose, who has two top-five and five top-10 finishes in 18 starts this year. “This finish makes me feel 100 percent better. It was just a great night for us. We fought hard all day.”

It was yet another spectacular superspeedway finish as Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart were battling for the victory. On the final lap the two tangled and Stewart was the victor as Busch slammed hard into the retaining wall causing a chain reaction.

Ambrose held his line and drove through the smoke and debris to earn his fifth top-10 finish of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The Australian driver maintained 18^th-place in the owner championship standings. “There was a lot of action on the track and it was intense,” Ambrose said. “It was just another amazing night for us and I want to thank Jodi and Tad (Geschickter), Brad Daugherty and my Kingsford® Charcoal team for believing in me. It’s been a great ride so far and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Ambrose started 18^th as the 43-car field lineup was set by the NASCAR rulebook due to afternoon showers Friday. Points leader Tony Stewart led Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Bush, Carl Edwards and the remaining rows of the field to the green flag for the Coke Zero 400 on Saturday night.

Only 11 laps after NASCAR waved the green flag, Ambrose charged into the top-10 as the top lane proved to be the way to go at the 2.5-mile tri-oval. Two laps later the first caution of the race occurred when Mark Martin went spinning off of Turn 2 and smashed the nose of his car into the inside wall. The Kingsford® Charcoal Toyota had been loose up top and tight on the bottom of the track while it was also hitting the ground.

“We were still all in all good,” Ambrose said. Frank Kerr called for four tires and no changes. The pit crew did an excellent job and picked up three spots on pit road for Ambrose, which positioned him fifth for the restart on Lap 16. On the next caution at Lap 27 for Casey Mears spinning off of Turn 2 into the inside wall, Ambrose had been shuffled back to 14^th and he was experiencing no grip. The Kingsford® Charcoal Toyota was still hitting the ground making the Toyota a little snug.

“We were so close to being really good,” Ambrose said. The JTG-Daugherty pit crew worked on getting the car off the ground and also changed four tires and made an air pressure adjustment. Ambrose returned to green flag racing in 27^th-place on Lap 31 this time with a loose handling car.

“It was pretty loose,” Ambrose said. “It was good on the bottom, but really loose in the middle of the track and up top.”

Another caution around Lap 59 for debris allowed the team to change four tires and work on the handling more. However, the changes for some reason made Kingsford® Toyota worse. A big wreck involving 13 cars on Lap 76 allowed Ambrose to return to pit road on Lap 79 for four tires and adjustments.

“The worse part was the car had been free and there was no grip in the tri-oval,” Ambrose said. “But, in turns 1, 2, 3 and 4 it was good." The No. 47 Kingsford® Charcoal Toyota took the green flag in 15^th position as the top five drivers consisted of Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson.

At Lap 99, Ambrose radioed Kerr and told him the car was perfect. As he entered pit road under caution on Lap 104, he emphasized to Kerr that he had more front grip and the car had a good balance. The pit crew only changed four tires, added fuel and sent Ambrose on his way. He restarted 13^th on Lap 107 and returned to the top 10 three laps later. Ambrose was charging to the front and on Lap 118 he strong-armed his way into the top-five. When the caution flag was displayed at Lap 121, Ambrose told Kerr ‘Don’t change a thing.’ Kerr had the crew only bolt on four fresh Goodyear tires and add fuel.

Back to work on Lap 127, Ambrose was 10^th while up ahead four drivers distanced themselves from the rest of the field. Stewart, Busch, Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson had a four car breakaway, but a caution at Lap 145 changed all of that. Ambrose came down pit road in 12^th-place for four tires and a quarter round of wedge out of his Kingsford® Charcoal Toyota. He restarted ninth on Lap 149 on the inside. His spotter Al DiRusso told Ambrose that the top of the track would be his best bet.

On Lap 152, An accident involving the No. 82 car of Scott Speed and No. 44 car of AJ Allmendinger brought out the eighth caution of the race. Ambrose was able to shove his way by the No. 2 car of Kurt Busch for the eighth spot as he prepared for the restart on Lap 156.

On Lap 159 Busch stole the lead from Stewart. Coming to the checkered flag on the next lap, Stewart moved to the outside of Busch and Busch moved up to block him. Busch’s rear bumper clipped Stewart’s nose causing Busch to spin around and slam hard into the retaining wall, which set off a big wreck in the field. Ambrose drove through the smoke and escaped unscathed to finish sixth in his second outing at Daytona International Speedway.

While Stewart won his second race of the season Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch rounded out the top-five. Ambrose was so close to having his third top-five finish of the season, but he was pleased with his top-10 outcome.

Next up for Ambrose and his JTG-Daugherty Racing team is Chicagoland Speedway. Live coverage on Saturday, July 11^th begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT and MRN Radio. The event will also air on Sirius XM Satellite Radio.