Backstretch Motorsports

Marcos Ambrose celebrates his first NASCAR win at Watkins Glen . The popular Aussie driver won his first NASCAR Nationwide Series event after 59 starts.(CIA Stock photo)

Race Fast Facts
Watkins Glen International
Zippo 200

Race Winner: Marcos Ambrose
Age: 31
Team : No. 59 - STP Ford
Owner: Tad Geschickter
Crew Chief: Gary Cogswell

Marcos Ambrose won the Zippo 200, his first victory in 59 NASCAR Series races.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2008.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in two races at Watkins Glen International.

“Just a huge relief. It feels like a big relief off my shoulders”,Ambrose said in post-rce interview.”I’m sure it is for everybody in this room, standing next to us, because we’ve committed a lot to it. I’ve come along way, I’ve dragged my family halfway around the world, away from my dad and mom, and everybody who needs me back in Australia, and today it just feels like it’s worthwhile. It feels like I’ve conquered a huge mountain, and it’s just a great day.”

Kyle Busch (second) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Watkins Glen International. It is his 12th top-10 finish in 2008. Busch survived an early-race penalty when his team failed to control a tire on pit road to finish second, 4.336 seconds behind Ambrose.

Matt Kenseth (third) posted his second top-10 finish in five races at Watkins Glen International.

Dario Franchitti (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie. He also qualified in the No. 1 spot for today’s race and led 18 laps.

Notes: On Lap 54, Carl Edwards’ Ford slid into the Chevrolet of Clint Bowyer in Turn 1, sending both cars off course. Edwards, who took responsibility for the incident, finished 25th, two positions behind Bowyer, who saw his lead shrink to 128 points over second-place Keselowski… Tad Geschickter, owner of Ambrose’s Ford, had previously announced a partnership with ESPN announcer Brad Daugherty, who provided commentary on the race from the TV booth. . . Busch led Eddie D’Hondt Motorsports to the runner-up finish in the team’s Nationwide Series debut.
Jeff Burton was today’s race lap leader with 25 circuits at the point.

Race Results
Watkins Glen International
ZIPPO 200
UNOFFICIAL
Fin Str Car Driver Team Lap Pts BPts Status TLd LLd
1 12 59 Marcos Ambrose STP Ford 82 190 5 Running 2 5
2 7 92 Kyle Busch Zippo BLU Toyota 82 175 5 Running 2 12
3 16 17 Matt Kenseth CitiFinancial Ford 82 165 Running
4 6 33 Kevin Harvick Camping World Chevrolet 82 160 Running
5 1 40 Dario Franchitti # Fastenal Dodge 82 160 5 Running 2 18
6 5 88 Brad Keselowski U.S. NAVY Chevrolet 82 150 Running
7 20 20 Joey Logano GameStop/PSP Toyota 82 146 Running
8 11 38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Toyota 82 147 5 Running 1 3
9 34 6 David Ragan Discount Tire Ford 82 138 Running
10 28 27 Brad Coleman Carino’s Italian Grill/Life Without Lupus Ford 82 134 Running
11 10 64 Max Papis Atreus Home & Communities Chevrolet 82 130 Running
12 9 22 Ryan Newman Supercuts Dodge 82 127 Running
13 14 1 Mike Bliss Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet 82 124 Running
14 13 29 Jeff Burton Holiday Inn Chevrolet 82 131 10 Running 3 25
15 35 99 David Reutimann Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota 82 123 5 Running 1 2
16 31 25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Curly’s Ford 82 115 Running
17 21 47 Kelly Bires Clorox Ford 82 112 Running
18 30 7 Mike Wallace GEICO Toyota 82 109 Running
19 2 55 Robby Gordon Jim Beam Dodge 82 106 Running
20 26 24 Brian Simo Long John Silver’s Chevrolet 82 103 Running
21 37 28 Kenny Wallace U.S. Border Patrol Chevrolet 82 100 Running
22 19 9 Patrick Carpentier Tow Truck In A Box Dodge 82 97 Running
23 17 2 Clint Bowyer BB&T Chevrolet 82 94 Running
24 39 89 Morgan Shepherd Fleur-de-lis Chevrolet 81 91 Running
25 15 60 Carl Edwards Save-a-Lot Ford 81 88 Running
26 33 30 Stanton Barrett NOS Energy Drink Chevrolet 81 85 Running
27 22 52 Boris Said 7-Eleven Slurpee/No Fear Energy Ford 81 82 Running
28 25 66 Steve Wallace Atreus Home & Communities Chevrolet 79 79 Running
29 3 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet 78 81 5 Running 1 17
30 18 5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Go Daddy Chevrolet 78 73 Running
31 36 4 Landon Cassill # Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet 76 70 Running
32 24 11 Jason Keller America’s Incredible Pizza Company Chevrolet 68 67 Transmission
33 42 61 Stan Barrett Chevrolet 61 64 Clutch
34 4 32 Denny Hamlin Dollar General Stores Toyota 59 61 Ignition
35 41 01 Wheeler Boys Buckley’s Automotive Chevrolet 41 58 Engine
36 8 12 Sam Hornish Jr. # Penske Truck Rental Dodge 40 55 Accident
37 32 86 Antonio Perez Chivas Racing/TELMEX Dodge 39 52 Accident
38 23 81 P.J. Jones Mahindra Tractors Dodge 23 49 Overheating
39 43 65 Stan Silva, Jr A&S Metals/Stan Silva, Jr Trucking Chevrolet 21 46 Accident
40 40 62 Brandon Whitt Ford 8 43 Brakes
41 38 84 Dale Quarterley Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet 7 40 Overheating
42 27 91 Michael McDowell MSRP Motorsports Chevrolet 3 37 Brakes
43 29 90 Chris Cook MSRP Motorsports Chevrolet 0 34 Suspension

# = Rookie, Fin = Finish, Str = Start, Pts = Total Points, BPs = Lap Leader Bns Pts, TLd = Times Led, LLd = Laps Led
Average Speed: 85.954 MPH Time of Race: 02 Hrs, 20 Mins, 18 Secs. Margin of Victory: 4.335 Seconds
Lead Changes: 11 among 7 drivers Cautions: 5 for 14 laps Attendance: 40,000