Bristol II: Marcos Ambrose preview

- Ambrose tests Grand-Am Sportscar in Virginia

- Bristol return a welcome challenge for Ambrose

- New 'Adventures of Marcos Ambrose' section on MarcosAmbrose.com features Late Model test

AMBROSE TESTS GRAND-AM SPORTSCAR IN VIRGINIA--

Marcos Ambrose has tested a Grand-Am prototype Sportscar for the first time in his career at Virginia International Raceway in Virginia today.

Along with fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards, Ambrose tested the #77 Dallara of Doran Racing.

Both Ambrose and Edwards set respectable lap times around the North Course at 'VIR', reaching competitive times aboard the 500-horsepower machine over the course of the day.

Team Owner Kevin Doran's #77 Daytona Prototype has competed in all nine rounds of the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Series, with a best finish of fifth at Virginia International Raceway in April, with Memo Gidley and Brad Jaeger at the wheel.

BRISTOL RETURN A WELCOME CHALLENGE FOR AMBROSE --

Marcos Ambrose is looking forward to his second Sprint Cup event at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee this weekend.

In his first Sprint Cup start at 'Thunder Valley' in March, Ambrose looked set for a fourth placed finish after one of the strongest runs this season.

Unfortunately for Ambrose, he dropped to 10th place in the late stages as he nursed home his #47 JTG Daugherty Racing entry, which developed engine problems.

The Bristol night race always has a special place in Ambrose's heart, as it was at this race in 2003 that the Australian visited his first NASCAR event, planting a seed that saw him make the switch to NASCAR in 2006.

NEW 'ADVENTURES OF MARCOS AMBROSE' SECTION ON MarcosAmbrose.com FEATURES LATE MODEL TEST--

A new section on the MarcosAmbrose.com website, fittingly named 'The Adventures of Marcos Ambrose', features stories from Marcos himself.

The first instalment explains some of the detail and history from Ambrose's Late Model test at Cherokee Speedway last week and includes a range of images from the day.

WHAT MARCOS HAS TO SAY --

On today's Grand-Am test at VIR --

"That was the first time I have driven one of these cars and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by what a terrific little race car it is," said Ambrose.

"You can really drive it and it responds to being muscled a bit.

"We had a really enjoyable day and we made some solid progress in a short amount of time.

"Carl was great to work with and I think we both really had a good time together today.

"I have to thank Kevin Doran and his crew for letting us drive his car at VIR today.

"Both Carl and I got down to some pretty respectable times by the end of the day."

On the Sharpie 500 at Bristol --

"I've been looking forward to the Bristol night race all year," said Ambrose.

"We ran really well at Bristol earlier in the year. We had a great run and ran a lot of laps in the top five and ended up having to nurse the car home with a motor problem.

"We still scored 10th and it was a great result for our team. Bristol is such a tough place, if you can run well there you really feel satisfied.

"We have put Michigan behind us. Bristol is a track that's very demanding and is pretty intimidating for a driver, but it's a track I always enjoy going to, ever since I was a spectator at the race there back in 2003."

-credit: ma/bam