Marcos Ambrose Racing For Redemption And Reward At Infineon Raceway

One of the biggest rules is sports is do not beat yourself. Last year in Sonoma, Marcos Ambrose did just that.

Battling Jimmie Johnson for the win, Ambrose attempted to save fuel by shutting off the motor under caution late in the race. As the field headed uphill behind the pace car, Ambrose was unable to restart the motor, lost the lead and ultimately the race.

Going into Sonoma this year Ambrose is racing for redemption, and a worthy cause.

This weekend Ambrose will carry a special paint scheme on his Richard Petty Motorsports No. 9 Ford featuring the Children’s Miracle Network. If Ambrose can win Sunday’s Toyota Save Mart 350, not only will he make up for last year’s gaffe, the team and sponsor Stanley will donate $1 million to the Children’s Miracle Network.

“A million dollars, if I can win the race goes to the Children’s Miracle Network, it’s a huge incentive,” Ambrose said. “I’ve never really raced with that kind of premise before, and it means a lot to me to give back like that. Yeah, there is pressure and people have expectations of performance.”

While last year’s finish was disappointing, Ambrose is not losing any sleep over it.

“I just wish you guys would stop talking about it,” he said. “As soon as I left that racetrack, I knew I wasn’t going to get that race back.

“You hate to lose races to a team like that, especially that I wasn’t able to get to victory lane at the Cup level, disappointment. But tell you what, I’m still proud of my effort last year, definitely led a lot of laps, pace setter. I’m proud of what I did but a shame we couldn’t finish it off.”

Joining Richard Petty Motorsports this season, Ambrose has proven to be competitive week-in and week-out. Now in his third full season in the Sprint Cup Series, Ambrose has two top fives and four top 10s, including a fourth at Las Vegas and a third at Dover.

Pegged by many as road course specialist, Ambrose calls oval racing his “passion” these days, saying road racing is not what makes NASCAR the sport it is. Now with a solid team behind him and experience playing a role, Ambrose is starting to see the results he has hoped for and is eager to head to tracks such as Kentucky, Texas, as well as returning to Dover, Kansas, Texas, Las Vegas and Charlotte.

“I’m learning every time I hit the racetrack,” he said. “This year more than any other I’m starting to get a feel of what I need to run well and some of the tricks and techniques that you need with all of the people around to you help make it happen.”

Sitting 21st in the standings, if Ambrose can leave Sonoma with his first Sprint Cup Series victory under his belt, he may emerge as another contender for that all-important wild card spot in this year’s Chase. All while helping the Children’s Miracle Network at the same time.