Fast Facts: Marcos Ambrose

Tasmanian Marcos Ambrose is in his sixth year in NASCAR competition, driving the #9 Stanley Tools/DeWalt Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series. Here’s a look at Ambrose’s career in Australia, Europe and the United States.
  • Marcos Ambrose was born September 1st, 1976 in Launceston, Tasmania and began racing karts at age 10. He won four Tasmanian state junior karting titles and in 1995 won the Australian karting chaqmpion in the Clubman Heavy class.
  • Ambrose raced in Australian Formula Ford in 1996, then moved on to British Formula Ford in 1998; in 1999 he was the British Formula Ford champion.

  • In 2001, Ambrose returned to Australia and began a legendary stint in V8 Supercars. He was Rookie of the Year in 2001, qualifying on pole for his first race; in 2002, he won his first race in the series and finished third in points. Ambrose went on to win V8 Supercar championships in 2003 and 2004. In a 2010 poll by V8X magazine, Ambrose was voted the best V8Supercar driver ever, with 28 wins and 18 poles in his five-year stint in the series.

  • Ambrose made his NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series in 2006, racing for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, then moved into the Nationwide Series in 2007 for the same team. The team split in 2008, and Ambrose drove a handful of Cup races between the two teams, as well as the full Nationwide season. He earned his first Nationwide win at Watkins Glen International that year, finishing third the next day in the Cup race at the same track. Ambrose raced for JTG Daugherty Racing in the Cup Series in 2009 and 2010 before moving to RPM in 2011.

  • Marcos Ambrose Motorsports is fielding late model cars for up-and-coming Australian driver George Miedecke in 16 UARA Stars events across the southeastern US in 2011.
    Ambrose and his wife Sonja have two daughters, Tabitha and Adelaide. He also enjoys riding his braaap mini motocross bike and prospecting for gold.

  • Find out more about Marcos Ambrose at http://www.marcosambrose.com/.
Image: Getty Images for NASCAR/Jared C. Tilton
Fast Facts: Marcos Ambrose Fast Facts: Marcos Ambrose Reviewed by Paula on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 Rating: 5