Aces Don’t Necessarily Mean Winning Road-Course Hand

Although Marcos Ambrose, a veteran of road-course racing before his full-time entry into NASCAR’s national series in 2006, has won at Watkins Glen the last three seasons, “ringers” haven’t been dominant in NASCAR Nationwide road-course events recently.

Since 2005, when the series returned to racing at least twice per season on road courses, only “aces” Ambrose, Juan Pablo Montoya (Mexico City 2007) and Ron Fellows (Montreal, 2008) have victories. Otherwise, career stock-car drivers have been adept at left and right turns.

Two-time series champion Martin Truex Jr. won the inaugural race at Mexico City in 2005, followed by Denny Hamlin (2006). Kevin Harvick won the inaugural race in Montreal (2007) and Carl Edwards won there last year. Ryan Newman (2005) Kurt Busch (2006) and Harvick (2007) won at The Glen before Ambrose’s wins over the last three years.

Brad Keselowski is one of the best road-course racers among series regulars. After finishing last – 43rd – in his first series road-course race at Mexico City in 2007, Keselowski’s average finish in the 12 road races since is 6.9, including consecutive career-best fourth-place efforts at Road America and Watkins Glen earlier this summer. He was fifth last year in Montreal.