Ambrose Leaves California with 22nd-Place Finish in No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota Camry

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Fontana, CA (February 22, 2009) – Marcos Ambrose started 14th and finished 22nd in the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway Sunday night with his No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota Camry.
 
After completing 249 of 250 laps in the second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event of the 36-race season, Ambrose is currently 21st in the owner point standings with Las Vegas Motor Speedway next up on the schedule. 

“We had a better car than where we finished, but we’ll take that position and go on to Las Vegas,” Ambrose said. “We just got caught a lap down and never recovered from that.”
Ambrose started the 500-mile race by moving forward into 12th-place. Then rain started to fall on the two-mile D-shaped oval and NASCAR placed the field under caution at Lap 5 for 17 laps. Back under green, Ambrose maintained a top 15 run until he began to experience handling problems.

“The Little Debbie® Toyota was tight late when I got back into the gas,” Ambrose said.

When rain began to fall again and the caution flag waved for a second time, the JTG-Daugherty team pitted the No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota on Lap 43. The pit crew took the opportunity to change four tires and make a wedge adjustment. Ambrose restarted in 13th place on Lap 46.

“A few laps later it just wouldn’t turn in the middle,” Ambrose said.

By Lap 73, Ambrose drifted back to 22nd as his car was also loose in and off.

When the frontrunners began green flag pit stops at Lap 84, Ambrose was shown in 15th place when he entered pit road two laps later for four tires and more adjustments.

Ambrose continued his efforts and maintained a top 25 position as he approached Lap 100. Even though leader Jeff Gordon was lurking 15 car lengths behind Ambrose, his No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota was turning faster lap times than Gordon.

Within the next 15 laps, Gordon was able to reel in Ambrose and finally make the pass to put him one lap down.

“We made an adjustment and for some reason it hurt the balance of the car and we lost a lap during that time,” Ambrose said. “We just never got it back, and that’s what hurt us--just track position and getting trapped a lap down.”

For the remainder of the 250-lap event, the JTG-Daugherty pit crew serviced the car every chance available to improve the handling. 

“It was tight through the middle,” Ambrose said. “It just would not roll. They made a variety of changes on each pit stop. Before Lap 200, the car was sliding and I still couldn’t turn it. There wasn’t much we could do for the center. Just after Lap 200, it was spinning the right rear tire. The right rear was just giving up.”

Ambrose soldiered on to cross the finish line in 22nd-place and earn $106,473 in winnings for his effort.

“I’m continuing to learn and getting more confident every day,” Ambrose said. “I feel like we have a good foundation heading into Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend.”  

Ambrose’s teammates from Michael Waltrip Racing both earned top-15 finishes. Michael Waltrip finished 15th in his No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry and David Reutimann finished 14th behind the wheel of the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry. Waltrip is now seventh in the owner point standings and Reutimann is 12th.

Matt Kenseth won his second-consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Jeff Gordon finished second, Kyle Busch finished third, Greg Biffle finished fourth and Kurt Busch rounded out the top five.

Live coverage of the Shelby 427 will air on Sunday, March 1 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

Ambrose Starts 14th in No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota at Auto Club Speedway

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Fontana, CA. (February 20, 2009) – Today Marcos Ambrose posted a time 39.636 seconds (181.653 mph) in the No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota Camry to secure the 14th starting position for the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway. The top five starters for the 250-lap event are Brian Vickers, Jimmie Johnson, Jamie McMurray, Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle.  
 
“We had a really solid lap and a good pick up from where we were in practice,” Ambrose said. “We feel good about our car and the weekend ahead. The No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota Camry JTG-Daugherty team did a great job. It feels good to have a solid starting position.”

His teammate David Reutimann had the seventh quickest time (39.541 seconds – 182.089 mph). Michael Waltrip experienced engine woes with his No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry and did not complete a lap. Fortunately, Waltrip is locked into the top 35 owner point standings and is guaranteed a starting position for the 500-mile race. Waltrip will make his 727th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start from the 42nd starting position.
 
After a one and half hour practice today before qualifying, Ambrose was 28th (40.391 seconds – 178.258 mph) out of 48 cars with Jimmie Johnson posting the fastest time of 39.584 seconds (181.892 mph) during that session. Tomorrow the Australian driver and his JTG-Daugherty Racing team have final practice from 2:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific.
 
On Sunday, Ambrose will make his 13th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start following a strong 17th-place finish in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. This is Ambrose’s second attempt in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry at the Auto Club Speedway two-mile D-shaped oval. In August of last year, the Australian driver finished 32nd in the 250 lap event.
 
To date, Ambrose’s career-best NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start is seventh (6/22/08) at Infineon Raceway and his career-best finish is third-place at Watkins Glen International (8/10/08).
 
Live coverage of the Auto Club 500 on Sunday, February 22 will air at 5 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

Waltrip Looks Forward to the Auto Club 500 at the AAA Speedway

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You’ve always enjoyed going to the Auto Club Speedway. What can fans expect to see?

“Races at the Auto Club Speedway are a lot of fun to watch. If I am a race fan, which I am, I am going to want to go and see the race because there are some unknowns heading into this event. I am very interested to see how these new cars will run without any testing and how that factor plays out in the race. Will it be the usual suspects back up front like Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle? Or has someone else figured out a way to test their car and prepare for this 2009 season? To me, this race is very important and could be a key to how this season will play out.
 
“Another reason why I like racing at the Auto Club Speedway is you are going to see speeds well in excess of 210 miles per hour. That’s something you don’t ever see at a place like Daytona International Speedway. At Daytona, speed was very important. At California, handling will really come into play especially in the corners. There will be three-wide racing with guys running up high and guys running down low. Drivers enjoy racing here because they have options. It’s all there at California.
 
“I also can’t wait to see how my new crew chief Bootie Barker works with my guys and see how they work together to change my set up for this weekend. Hopefully, we’ll have a chance to run up front and do better than I did last year.”
 
What are your thoughts on Michael Waltrip Racing leaving Daytona with three cars in the top 20?

“I’m really proud that all three cars did well and finished in the top 20 at Daytona. Marcos Ambrose did a great job especially considering it was his first Daytona 500. Reutimann got 12th. It was a day that MWR needed and now we are going to hopefully build on that and continue the momentum with good runs.
 
“As for the NAPA AUTO PARTS team, our NAPA Toyota really handled well. We didn’t have the speed we needed, but it really drove well. As the cars were getting strung out, I could march up through the field. At the end, I knew the end was near so I just had to make the charge. We were real fortunate to get in a couple of holes and make it all work out.
I am really proud of the NAPA team. It was my first race with new crew chief Bootie Barker. I really enjoyed working with him. It was a lot of fun. I really look forward to going to California.”
 
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
 
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will start in his 727th NASCAR Sprint Cup race when he competes in the Auto Club 500 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

He will be competing in his 17th race at the Auto Club Speedway. His best start at the track is 6th (April 28, 2002) and best finish is 7th (April 27, 2003).

During his Cup career at the 2.0-mile oval, Waltrip has earned two top-10 and seven top-25 finishes.

He has completed 3,628 of 4,005 laps (90.6%) at the track and has led a total of 16 laps in competition.

His average start is 25th and average finish is 26th

Waltrip will be pulling double duty at the Auto Club Speedway as we will also compete in the Nationwide Series race. Waltrip will drive his No. 99 Best Western Toyota Camry in the Stater Bros. 300.

The NAPA AUTO PARTS team is guaranteed a starting spot in the Auto Club 500. The team finished 29th in the owner point standings in 2008. Currently, Waltrip ranks eighth in driver and owner points standings.

Waltrip Scores Seventh-Place Finish in Daytona 500

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Daytona Beach, FL. – Michael Waltrip kicked off the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season with a solid seventh-place finish in his No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry in Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The two-time Daytona 500 champ was in contention for the win when rain shortened the race to just 152 laps out of 200.

 “We might have over achieved a little bit,” said Waltrip who started the race in 27th position in a back-up car. “We didn’t have a great car especially in comparison to my primary car that was wrecked Wednesday in practice. We had to scramble to get in the top-10 so I’m happy with that. If we would have gone back to racing,e miht have gotten an even better finish. I didn’t feel like I had the fastest car, but it handled great. Maybe that’s why it wasn’t so fast because it was set up to handle well. I’ll just tke what I can get.”
 
The opening laps of the Daytona 500 saw Waltrip battle both a loose and tight-handling condition. Crew chief Bootie Barker used the competition yellow on lap 25 to make air pressure and track bar adjustments. Waltrip returned to the track in 33rd place and Kyle Busch took over the lead from the pole sitter Martin Truex Jr.
 
Waltrip’s NAPA Toyota responded well to the changes as he was able to run just outside the top 10 by the 50-lap mark. The driver called over the radio to say the car was very well balanced, but just needed more speed. However, the lack of speed wasn’t the only concern for Barker and the boys. Tire failures slowed the race down two times to bring out the caution on laps 55 (Travis Kvapil) and 119 (David Stremme). Plus, inclement weather was lurking. During the caution periods, the team inspected the tires, bolted on four fresh Goodyears and added fuel.
 
When the race restarted for the fifth time on lap 124, the NAPA Toyota Camry was 20th and Elliott Sadler was the new leader. Unfortunately, it took just one lap for the race to slow after Brian Vickers tried to put a block on the lapped car of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Instead of a clean block, the two touched triggering a 10-car crash involving drivers Kurt and Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Robby Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Jamie McMurray and Scott Speed. Waltrip dodged the melee, and to be on the safe side, Barker brought his driver in to inspect the car, change all four tires and take on fuel. 
 
The green flag once again waved on lap 133 with Waltrip in 20th. The NAPA driver knew rain was on its way so he made another fast charge to the front. He climbed to 11th place when Jeff Burton and Regan Smith got together to bring out the yellow flag on lap 138. Barker kept the NAPA Camry out on track to maintain the track position as rain drops started to fall. Fortunately, the weather improved and NASCAR threw the green flag on lap 143. In just two laps, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota was in fifth position and in contention for the win. Unfortunately, Waltrip’s momentum slowed when Aric Almirola wrecked on the backstretch. The NAPA Toyota was posted in seventh position, but moments later, the rain once again began to fall. NASCAR was forced to call the race completed after being under a red-flag period for 20 minutes. 
 
Winning his first Daytona 500 was former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth. Rounding out the top-10 finishers were Kevin Harvick, AJ Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer, Elliott Sadler, David Ragan, Waltrip, Tony Stewart, Reed Sorenson and Kurt Busch.
 
Michael Waltrip Racing turned in the highest finishes for Toyota in the Daytona 500. Besides Waltrip’s top-10 finish, David Reutimann scored 12th place and Marcos Ambrose finished 17th.
 
Next up for Waltrip and his NAPA Racing team is the Auto Club 500 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Broadcast Coverage gets underway Sunday at 5:00 p.m. ET on FOX. It can also be heard on MRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

Reutimann Finishes 12th in the 51st Running of the Daytona 500

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Daytona Beach, FL (February 15, 2009) David Reutimann drove the No. 00 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Aaron’s Dream Machine to a 12th place finish in Sunday’s 51st running of the Daytona 500. Reutimann was moving through the field when the caution flag came flew with 55-laps to go as rain moved into the area. The race was called official after a 20-minute rain delay and Reutimann would settle for the 12th place finish in the opening race of the 36-race season.
 
Starting the Great American Race in the 28th position, Reutimann quickly moved up to as far as 13th while struggling with a loose condition early the race. Crew Chief Rodney Childers and the team made minor chassis adjustments to the Aaron’s Dream Machine over several outstanding pit stops and improved the handling through the high-banks of Daytona International Speedway.
 
While running 17th midway through the race, Reutimann dodged a multi-car wreck at the front of the field on lap 123 that damaged several cars as sprinkles of rain began to fall in the area. After a long caution to clean the debris, Reutimann would restart 21st and begin his march to the front.
 
Running the outside high line with teammate Marcos Ambrose the duo moved up through the field until the final caution fell on lap 145. Rain began to pepper the track and the racecars were ordered to pit road in hopes that the weather would pass. After a 20 minute red flag, NASCAR officials finally called the race and Reutimann would collect a 12th place finish, the best in his short NSCS career.
 
The next race for Reutimann and the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine will be at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA next Sunday Feb. 22 at 4:00 PM eastern. The Auto Club Speedway will also be the site of the debut of Ken Butler III in the NASCAR Nationwide Series where he will drive R3 Motorsports No. 23 Aaron’s Lucky Dog Dream Machine in the Stater Bros 300 Saturday Feb. 21. 

Ambrose, Waltrip Attend Daytona Fan Fest and Gear Up for 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season

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Saturday afternoon, Michael Waltrip (MW) and Marcos Ambrose traveled to Daytona Beach , Fla. for the annual Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). 

The two signed autographs for hundreds of fans and also participated in a question and answer session on stage in the infield.

There were a lot of fans wearing NAPA gear asking Waltrip multiple questions. To Ambrose's surprise, there were also a few people in the audience from his home country of Australia with questions as well.

One question in particular posed to Ambrose and Waltrip from the audience was “What was the best racing advice they had ever received and from who?”

MW immediately responded, "Well from Richard Petty of course. He told me ‘if you want to be in the NASCAR Cup Series, then go get a ride in NASCAR Cup and don't be messing around with 100 other things.’ So, I wandered over to Statesville and found a guy named Dick Bahre who had a car. I talked him into letting me drive it and I even bribed him a little bit. Basically, I did whatever I had to do to get in that car. I made my first attempt with him in the Coca-Cola 600 in 1985 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Ever since then, in some form or another, I have been doing this job."

Ambrose followed by saying, "Mine was from Ken Schrader in passing, but I really took it to heart. He said, ‘just don't cause any trouble in NASCAR and you'll be able to hang around for a while.’ So, I've tried not to cause any trouble. If you don't cause any trouble with your team owner, they will keep you in the car and if you don't cause any trouble with NASCAR, you'll get to race and as long as you don't knock out Jr. (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) then the fans will like you."

Both Waltrip and Ambrose wrapped in the evening after four hours that included interaction with fans, a press conference in the DIS media center and interviews with ESPN and SPEED Channel.

The two were also guests on SPEED Channel's Trackside Live with regulars Darrell Waltrip, Steve Byrnes, Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond that will air next week.

This week marks a busy week for them and also David Reutimann, who was not able to attend Daytona’s Fan Fest.

Ambrose, Reutimann and Waltrip have a full schedule of media activities. Monday kicks off the week with sit down interviews for "The Road to Daytona", which is a one hour show that will air on FOX leading into Daytona 500.

On Tuesday, Ambrose will be in SPEED Channel's new studio as a guest for the Preseason Thunder show. Following that, he will participate in a NASCAR video teleconference.

On Wednesday, Reutimann and Waltrip gear up for a commercial shoot with Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership. They are shooting a few commercials at a Charlotte area Aaron’s store. One of those commercials will include Waltrip’s daughter Macy.

Speaking of commercials, Waltrip along with NHRA driver Ron Capps wrapped up four this past week in the Charlotte area. When a fan asked Waltrip if there would be new NAPA commercials as funny as the ones last season, Waltrip lit up with a smile assuring his fans there will be.

"We just shot a Toyota commercial that is really funny and we shot four NAPA commercials and they are really good," Waltrip said. "I'll give you a hint. Ron Capps and I go to people’s houses in Charlotte and we play different games with them like Clue, 20 questions or charades. You will love seeing them.

“I am really thankful and I have been lucky over the years to be able to do great commercials thanks to my sponsors,” continued Waltrip. “I appreciate being a part of it all. Now, we have the Aaron's commercials this week and Macy is going to be in one of them. So, I am really looking forward to that."

Ambrose is also on a commercial shoot this week before a Toyota photo shoot Thursday afternoon. NASCAR is shooting a national commercial at Lowe's Motor Speedway featuring the Australian driver.

Ambrose, Reutimann and Waltrip are all getting back into the swing of things before competing in The Great American Race. Ambrose will star in his first Daytona 500 for JTG-Daugherty Racing in the No. 47 Little Debbie® Toyota hoping to top his career-best finish of third-place (Watkins Glen International)