In what may be a precursor to Sunday’s Sprint Cup race, Marcos Ambrose drove away for the win in Saturday’s Nationwide Series Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International.
NASCAR Nationwide Series at Watkins Glen results: Marcos Ambrose holds off Kyle Busch
Marcos Ambrose overcame an early spin to win Saturday’s Nationwide Series at Watkins Glen.
Jeff Zelevansky
Ambrose led 48 of the laps, and held off a determined Kyle Busch down the stretch. Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five. Rookie Chase Elliott was the highest-finishing Nationwide regular in sixth.
“It’s just something special. I’m just so thrilled for the guys,” Ambrose said. “I had my tongue hanging out the whole day. There was nothing left. I tried to hold him back. Another lap and I would have been in trouble.”
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The day wasn’t without adventure for Ambrose, who started fourth. He and Busch tangled racing through the inner loop on Lap 5. Though both spun and lost numerous positions, neither sustained significant damage.
“He ducked out late, and then the spotter was late,” Ambrose said. “I was already committed to that line, and he thumped my left rear there. It wasn’t intentional. I’ve got no malice against him whatsoever -- he spun out, too.”
Said Busch: “We didn’t qualify as well as we needed to and tried to make a move on somebody who didn’t give a crap. Then, he just turned into me and spun us out, so that put us behind. We came back and got second.”
The victory was Ambrose’s first in Nationwide since 2011 and his fifth overall, with all coming on road courses. A two-time Cup winner at Watkins Glen, Ambrose is the favorite to win Sunday’s Cheez-It 355.
“I just want to enjoy today,” Ambrose said. “You get to Victory Lane, and it’s special. I would love to repeat, but it’s a lot of work tomorrow. I want to think about this and get a good night’s rest and come attack them tomorrow.”
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