Team Australia to Begin 2007 NASCAR Program With Daytona Testing Friday

Tasmanian Marcos Ambrose will drive the Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion.

Photo courtsey: www.bammedia.com.au

Daytona Beach, Florida - Team Australia’s Marcos Ambrose will begin his 2007 NASCAR program when the Australian embarks on the first open Busch Series test for the season at Daytona International Speedway this Friday.

Ambrose will put his new ride, the Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion, through its paces around the 2.5-mile superspeedway over three days of testing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with other Busch Series teams.

Daytona is currently hosting pre-season testing for all three of NASCAR’s championship divisions.

After a refreshing break in Australia over the Christmas and New Year’s period, during which Ambrose announced a minimum two race schedule in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup in a Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards-branded Wood Brothers/JTG Racing Ford Fusion, the Tasmanian star is keener than ever to get back into a race car and begin his second season in NASCAR competition.

It will be Ambrose’s first time on the Daytona superspeedway, the venue that will also be the stage of his NASCAR Busch Series debut on February 17th.

Ambrose has previous superspeedway experience, racing at Talladega Superspeedway in last year’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in October.

Ambrose has competed on the Daytona road course in the past, racing in the 2005 Daytona 24 Hour.

The test will give Ambrose the opportunity to gel with his new crew chief Greg Connor and the crew on the Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Wood Brothers/JTG Racing entry.

The three test days at Daytona on January 19th-21st will be followed by the second official pre-season Busch Series test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on February 5th-6th.

Marcos Ambrose -- Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion.

“The Daytona test will be a good way to get back into things for the new season,” said Ambrose.

“We are going to the first test to really dial ourselves in – there will not be much pressure to do lap times.

“The test will be the first chance for me to work with my new crew and for everyone to learn to communicate with each other. We’ll be working at getting systems in place for the new season and making sure we gel as a team.

“The car should be good from the start, so the main thing will be for our crew to learn to work together. They’re a great bunch of guys and I’ve been looking forward to driving the Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion for a while now, so it’s going to be a good few days at Daytona.

“The Wood Brothers/JTG Racing operation has had a little bit of a reshuffle for the new season and the atmosphere in the workshop is really great. Everything is on schedule and we can’t wait for the season to get underway.

“I’ll have Greg Connor as my crew chief so we’ll be working at getting our communication right at Daytona and then really set ourselves for a big test in Las Vegas in early February.”

MARCOS AMBROSE FAST FACTS:

– Ambrose will drive the Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing in the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series

– The 30-year-old will also aim to qualify for two NASCAR Nextel Cup races in the #47 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia Ford Fusion for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing at Sonoma on June 24th and Watkins Glen on August 12.

– Ambrose was born in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

– finished 21st in the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and third in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings, earning US$256,368 in 22 starts in the #20 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia Ford F-150 for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing

– 2006 season highlighted by Budweiser Pole and WIX Lap Leader awards in Kentucky on 8 July 2006, along with third place finishes at Kansas on 1 July 2006 and Nashville 12 August 2006

– Earned nine top 10 qualifying positions and four top 10 finishes in his first season of oval racing of any description

– Ambrose won two consecutive Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series titles in 2003 and 2004 for Ford

ABOUT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY:

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida

Race Distance: 120 laps – 300 miles (482.8 kilometres)

Degree of Banking in Turns: 31 degrees

Go Ambrose - Hope you have a great season mate!

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