Ambrose named Australian Driver of the Year

AMBROSE VOTED AUSTRALIAN DRIVER OF THE YEAR BY AUTO ACTION MAGAZINE

Marcos Ambrose has been voted as the Australian Driver of the Year by Australian motor racing magazine Auto Action for the second-consecutive year.

Ambrose, who is currently at home with his family in his hometown of Launceston, Tasmania, won the award by receiving 41 percent of the vote, which was decided by readers of Auto Action as part of the magazine's annual 'Racer of the Year Awards' issue.

2008 Australian V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup placed second behind Ambrose in the Australian Driver of the Year award with 25 percent of the vote, with Aussie IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe placing third.

The Australian Driver of the Year Award was open to any Australian-born driver racing both internationally or in Australia in 2008.

"The 2008 Auto Action Racer of the Year Awards give Australian motor racing fans the opportunity to have their say on who they think best represented Australia on the world motorsport stage," said Auto Action Editor Rob Margeit.

"That Marcos Ambrose has been voted Australian Driver of the Year for the second year in a row by Auto Action's readers highlights that even though he is no longer racing in Australia, he is not forgotten.

"Ambrose's second straight award also highlights the increasing popularity of NASCAR in Australia."

Further highlighting the growth in popularity of NASCAR in Australia, 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson was voted as the second-placed driver in the 'Racer of the Year Award', open to the best driver worldwide for the 2008 season. Johnson was also recently featured in the Top 50 Sports Stars of 2008 in the Herald Sun, Australia's highest circulating newspaper.

"I am very lucky to have such great fans back home in Australia that take a lot of interest in my progress in NASCAR and the sport as a whole," said Ambrose.

"When I first moved to the US I really wanted to help Aussie fans learn about NASCAR. The way that NASCAR has taken off in Australia has really exceeded my expectations.

"Coming back here this off-season, there's been a lot of comments about things like Jimmie Johnson winning three-straight titles, Tony Stewart switching to his own team, Kyle Busch's hot streak, things like that.

"It really shows that NASCAR as a whole is growing over here in Australia. It's on both free-to-air and cable TV and it's getting a lot more exposure.

"A big thanks to Auto Action and all of the readers that voted for me. It's always nice when it's the fans that cast the votes."

Ambrose's 2008 season was highlighted by his first NASCAR victory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen in August.

Ambrose finished tenth in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series, finishing in the top 10 in the Nationwide Series standings for the second-consecutive season.

The Australian also made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in 2008, with a best result of third place, also at Watkins Glen, after starting from the rear.

Ambrose made 11 starts in the top flight of NASCAR ahead of running a full-time schedule in Sprint Cup next season with JTG Daugherty Racing and major sponsors Little Debbie, Kingsford, Clorox and Bush's Beans.

-credit: ma/bam