Driver and Team Confident a Win is Close
CONCORD, N.C. (July 9, 2013) – Last weekend at Daytona, Marcos Ambrose and the No. 9 Stanley Ford team showed their strength and speed. Fresh off a shot at a win in Daytona, the team looks to continue their summer momentum and post a finish that reflects how well the team has progressed this summer.
The Camping World RV Sales 301 will mark Ambrose’s ninth start at the one-mile track. The Australian native’s best finish of ninth came in the July event in 2011 with the No. 9 team. He also has two Nationwide and one truck series start at the Northeast track. Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer has 6 ‘Cup starts under his belt as a crew chief and a best finish of seventh with David Ragan in 2011. The Illinois native also has four Nationwide starts, three of which he finished in the top-five.
Comments from Stanley Ford Fusion Driver Marcos Ambrose:
“Last weekend really showed we can run up front and compete for wins. I feel the same this weekend as well. It’s a completely different track, different style of racing, but I think our team is really strong right now. We have a lot of confidence that we can run up front each weekend.
“This weekend track position and a good balanced car are extremely important. The biggest challenge at Loudon is the flat nature of the track. It’s really difficult to carry your speed through the turns and then have grip coming off of them. It’s hard to pass which is why track position is so critical. But, Drew (crew chief Drew Blickensderfer) is pretty smart, and I know he can put us in a good spot at the end.”
Comments from Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer on New Hampshire:
“Keys to Loudon are track position and more track position, so qualifying and pit stops will be very critical. Being such a flat track, handling through the corner is very important. The straightaways are long, so we’ll rely on our Roush Yates Engine to get power on the straightaways. With narrow pit stalls, pit selection will help our pit stops, so we’ll need to put up a good lap in qualifying to be ahead of the game when we take the green on Sunday.”
Chassis History:
The No. 9 team will bring chassis No. 728 to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. The team competed with chassis No. 728 at Martinsville Speedway where Ambrose started from the outside pole and posted an eight-place finish.
About Richard Petty Motorsports
A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneurs Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. With a history of over 200 wins and business partnerships with national and global leaders, today the race operation fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion with primary partners Smithfield Foods, U.S. Air Force and STP and Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 9 machine with primary partners Stanley and DEWALT. In addition, Michael Annett wheels the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team is headquartered in Concord, N.C.
He’ll do well if that sorry assed 48 driver doesn’t pull any mire crap on him like blocking, like he did at Daytona.Hope the 48 gets crashed.