Marcos Ambrose Gears Up For Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 30

In 2007 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as shown above, NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose qualified fifth and finished seventh place overall. The following year in 2008, he made his way to third. This year, Ambrose will join Carl Edwards and Patrick Carpentier in the Aug. 30 NAPA Auto Parts 200 Presented by Dodge in Montreal.

Montreal, May 13, 2009 – Australian Marcos Ambrose, one of only three NASCAR drivers to finish in the top 10 in the first two editions of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge, announced today that he will take part in the Nationwide race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on August 29-30, 2009.

He joins Patrick Carpentier and Carl Edwards who posted their entries earlier last month.

Ambrose, who is running his first full Sprint Cup schedule this year, will make one of his rare appearances in a Nationwide car in Montreal. Back in 2007 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where he qualified fifth, the Australian motorsports superstar was fighting for the lead late in the race before an incident with Robbie Gordon sent him back to seventh place overall. Last year, he qualified and finished third in a rain-soaked race won by Ron Fellows.

Continue reading “Marcos Ambrose Gears Up For Montreal”

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race memories: 1998, Martin gets a gift

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

Until the final lap of the 1998 race, 1997 winner Jeff Gordon appeared all but certain to extend his domination of the all-star race, but Mark Martin was the beneficiary of some unexpected good fortune at Gordon’s expense. Gordon had the lead when the field took the green flag for the final 10-lap segment, but NASCAR ruled Gordon jumped the restart, and the field circled the 1.5-mile track under caution while the running order was reset.

NASCAR’s decision on the restart proved costly to Gordon, who was leading on the final lap of the segment but suddenly slowed as he approached the first corner. Gordon’s Chevrolet had run out of fuel because of the extra laps at the start of the segment, and Martin shot past him for the win.

Continue reading “All-Star Race memories: 1998, Martin gets a gift”

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

Billed as “One Hot Night” in prerace publicity, the 1992 all-star race gained renown as the first superspeedway race run under the lights. The event itself did not disappoint; it featured an electrifying finish in which Davey Allison won in a shower of sparks after he and Kyle Petty tangled as they approached the finish line.

Allison was driving the same Robert Yates Racing chassis—nicknamed “007”—he had powered to victory in the 1991 all-star race, but 007 ended the first all-star show under the lights as a mangled carcass of sheet metal. Together, Allison and Petty led 57 of 70 laps (31 and 26, respectively), but it was Dale Earnhardt who was out front late in the final 10-lap segment.

Continue reading “NASCAR All-Star Race memories: 1992, Davey Allison”

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Fast Facts

What: 25th Annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

When: Saturday, May 16, 9 p.m. (ET)

Where: Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.

TV: SPEED, 7 p.m. (ET)

Track configuration: 1.5-mile oval

2008 winner: Kasey Kahne

Most All-Star victories among active drivers: Jeff Gordon, three (1995, ’97, 2001)

Eligible Drivers

Greg Biffle Carl Edwards Kasey Kahne Ryan Newman
Clint Bowyer Jeff Gordon Matt Kenseth Tony Stewart
Jeff Burton Denny Hamlin Brad Keselowski Winner Sprint Showdown
Kurt Busch Kevin Harvick* Bobby Labonte* 2nd Place Sprint Showdown
Kyle Busch Dale Jarrett* Terry Labonte* Fan Vote Sprint Showdown
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jimmie Johnson Mark Martin

*These drivers will be eligible for competition as they are active drivers who have competed in at least 1 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event during the 2008 and/or 2009 seasons and their ‘Champion’ status is within the past 10 years.

Continue reading “All Star Race – Fast Facts”

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