Marcos Ambrose joined the NASCAR ranks this season after a successful V8 Supercar career in Australia where he won two championships. Credit: Autostock

Wood Brothers-JTG ink Ambrose for Cup deal

Marcos Ambrose may compete in up to 10 Nextel Cup races with Wood Brothers-JTG Racing in 2007 as an extension of a Busch Series venture.

Ambrose, who also will run a full Busch Series schedule, will have Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards branding on the back quarter panel of his No. 59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford and part of the sponsorship agreement calls for Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards entry in a minimum of two, and up to 10, Cup events.

"There is no doubt that NASCAR has become the pinnacle of world motorsport and I am enjoying the journey." - Marcos Ambrose

Ambrose will run in the Cup Series' road course races at Infineon Raceway on June 24 and at Watkins Glen on Aug. 12. An extension of the two-race Nextel Cup program will be influenced by results and further involvement from Australian companies looking to increase their US and global branding.

Marketing plans have already been put in place which will see Aussie Vineyards wine packaged with bags of Kingsford Charcoal in outlets across the US.

"The confirmation of at least two NASCAR Nextel Cup races for me in 2007 is fantastic news," Ambrose said. "It is great that Craig [Gore] and his Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards program will not only be continuing with me as secondary sponsors [on the No. 59] next season, but that we will be flying the Team Australia colours in a minimum of two Nextel Cup events.

"Our learning curve continues to be a steep one in the U.S. and I am certainly looking forward to working with the team at Wood Brothers-JTG Racing and Craig Gore as we take the next step forward in my NASCAR career.

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"There is no doubt that NASCAR has become the pinnacle of world motorsport and I am enjoying the journey."

Ambrose joined the NASCAR ranks this season after a successful V8 Supercar career in Australia where he won two championships.

He had not driven an oval race before his Truck Series debut at Martinsville in April, but he finished the season with two third-place finishes (Kansas and Nashville) and a pole (Kentucky).

Wood Brothers/JTG Racing co-owner Tad Geschickter said that the Team Australia concept had created an enormous amount of interest, in and out of NASCAR circles in the US.

"We look forward to continuing our relationship with Craig Gore and the Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards program as ground continues to be made in the US market," Geschickter said.

"I think there are a lot of people looking forward to seeing Marcos make his NASCAR Nextel Cup road course debut. We all pretty well know what he achieved on similar tracks in V8 Supercar back in Australia."