Ambrose Voted Best V8 Supercar Driver Ever

For Immediate Release

CORNELIUS, N.C. (September 2, 2010) – – As a part of V8X magazines 10-year celebration, motorsports journalists have rated NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Marcos Ambrose as the best V8 Supercar driver ever.

“It’s just an honor to receive this kind of recognition,” Ambrose humbly stated. “I really want to thank V8X magazine and the motorsport journalists who voted for me. I love the V8 Supercar Series and I have so many fond memories. I’m proud to have been able to be a part of its history.”

The magazine states that journalists were polled on ‘who was – or is – the best driver in the sport’ and ‘who they thought laid it all on the line’.

The dual V8 Supercar champion came out on top besting Mark Skaife (1994, 2000, 2001, 2002 champion), Craig Lowndes (1996, 1998, 1999 champion), Jamie Whincup (2008, 2009 champion), Garth Tander (2007 champion), Glenn Seton (1993, 1997 V8 Supercar champion), Greg Murphy, John Bowe (1995 champion), Russell Ingall (2005 champion), Rick Kelly (2006 champion) respectively.

Ambrose’s V8 Supercar stats are impressive. He has 28 race wins to his credit along with 18 pole positions and the Barry Sheene Medal in his Championship winning years of 2003 and 2004.

The article also cited that Ambrose was ‘a revelation when he arrived on the scene with pole position at the Australian Grand Prix support race in his first outing and from there he shrugged off the rookie tag with a round win in his first season and became only the second rookie in Bathurst history to score pole on debut.’

His strengths were listed as: Mind like a steel trap, racing, qualifying and development.

Ambrose, branded the ‘Devil Racer’, bid farewell to the V8 Supercar Series in 2005 to go across the pond and pursue a career in NASCAR.

Aligning with JTG Daugherty Racing based in Cornelius, N.C., he became a three-time NASCAR Nationwide Series winner at Watkins Glen International. As a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor, his career-best finish is second-place (Watkins Glen International).

Two-Time Daytona 500 Champ To Race No. 55 Toyota

ATLANTA – Aaron’s, Inc. will sponsor driver Michael Waltrip at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 31 as part of its 55th anniversary celebration. The two-time Daytona 500 champion and former Talladega winner returns to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driving the No. 55 Toyota fielded by his Michael Waltrip Racing organization.

Waltrip drove the Aaron’s 55th anniversary paint scheme at Talladega in April in a Toyota fielded by Prism Motorsports. He started last but led laps 31-34 before a multi-car crash ended his race. Waltrip also finished 18th in the 2010 Daytona 500.

“If the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series raced every weekend at Talladega and Daytona I’d still be driving full-time,” laughed Waltrip. “That’s how much I like those tracks and restrictor plate racing. The only place better than sitting in the stands or watching a restrictor plate race on television is behind the wheel of the Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota.”

Aaron’s sponsorship of this race program is designed to develop awareness of Aaron’s 55th Anniversary Super Sweepstakes with scratch-off chances to win every month through November 2010 and grand prize drawings in December including multiple chances to win a Toyota Camry Hybrid. People may pick up a game card each month at any of Aaron’s 1,700+ stores. And they should register their game cards each month at Aarons.com/55.

“We could not be more pleased having Michael racing the No. 55 Anniversary Dream Machine at Talladega,” said Aaron’s Chief Operating Officer Ken Butler. “His experience at superspeedways is like no other and we are confident that he will be at the front of the pack contending for the win.”

Aaron’s, Inc. entered NASCAR racing in 2000 when it agreed to sponsor the Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Waltrip agreed to serve as spokesman for the race in a television commercial, and Aaron’s agreed to sponsor Waltrip’s Nationwide team then housed in the backyard of his home.

As Butler, Waltrip and Aaron’s became more visible through television commercials during race broadcasts, the Aaron’s race car began to develop a public identity of its own and become synonymous with the number 99, Michael Waltrip and Aaron’s.

Aaron’s support of Waltrip continued over the years as Waltrip opened his 140,000-square-foot race shop in Cornelius, N.C. Michael Waltrip Racing now fields Toyotas for David Reutimann’s No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine and Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS entry in the Sprint Cup series and Ryan Truex’s No. 00 in the K&N Pro Series. MWR along with Gary and Blake Bechtel co-own Diamond-Waltrip Racing that fields the OUT! Pet Care/Aaron’s Toyota for Trevor Bayne in the Nationwide Series.

SHOW #125 – Awesome race in Montreal, Kyle wins 4th straight, what drivers will lock in, Paul returns, Atlanta anniversary, fantasy picks and more. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Paul Northrop

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CORRECTION: The point leaders in 2010 have been: Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick from Fontana to Bristol (races 2-5), Jimmie Johnson from Martinsville to Talladega (races 6-9), then Kevin again after Richmond (race 10)

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