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Aussie set to make NASCAR history
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With Wednesday’s announcement that JTG-Daugherty has signed a technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing, one driver will soon be making NASCAR history.
Marcos Ambrose will become the first Australian to race fulltime in the top tier NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starting in 2009. The 32-year-old former V8 Supercar champion will race the No.47 Toyota Camry.
"For me it's the realization of a dream and the culmination of a lot of hard work from a lot of people," said Ambrose. "Over the past three seasons I could not have enjoyed my time in NASCAR any more. In 2009 we are stepping it up to the next level so it's only going to get better.”
JTG Daugherty Racing will move its Sprint Cup operation into MWR's 140,000-square foot facility in Cornelius, North Carolina and receive cars, engineering, mechanical and other technical support from MWR's existing infrastructure.
TRD will support the JTG Daugherty team with engines from its Costa Mesa, California facility and vehicle engineering support from its Salisbury, N.C. facility.
Ambrose scored his first NASCAR victory earlier this season at Watkins Glen and currently sits 10th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series standings.
"I know that I have a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I can't wait,” said Ambrose. "It's quite a day for me to see this all confirmed."
The new opportunity will not come without a bit of sacrifice for Ambrose who will leave the Ford brand to switch to Toyota next season. Ford Racing has been associated with Ambrose for eight years, since his days in the Australian V8 Supercar series. Ford was also instrumental in brokering the deal that brought Ambrose to America in 2006.
"For sure, we are closing a really great chapter of my career with Ford," said Ambrose. "We have achieved a lot together and every single race in a car with a blue oval on the front has been an absolute privilege.
But at the end of the day even the best endeavors from me,” he added, “The team and Ford Racing North America could not make something work for us all at the premier level of NASCAR for 2009.”
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