HAMPTON, Ga. -- Five year ago, Marcos Ambrose was putting the finishing touches on his second consecutive V8 Supercars championship. But in the back of his mind, he had this crazy idea of coming to America and racing at NASCAR's highest level.

This week, that "crazy idea" took the final step as Michael Waltrip Racing named Ambrose to drive the No. 47 Toyota for the final four races of the 2008 season, in an effort to prepare the Tasmanian native for his full-time foray into Sprint Cup next season.

“

I feel ready, I feel like I've had enough experience now. I've outlasted a lot of these open-wheel guys coming in and guys coming in from overseas.

”

MARCOS AMBROSE

If luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity, Ambrose has certainly been lucky. But he also knew what he wanted -- and had an idea of how to get there -- long before he stepped into the cockpit of a NASCAR racer.

"I had a plan that I was going to give it at least two years driving a car here before I considered quitting," Ambrose said. "And as long as I was progressing, I was happy. It has been a fast progression for me. I had never driven on an oval before I came to North America.

"You just have to put yourself in the right positions, and when the opportunities come, you've got to make the most of them. It was a big leap of faith to come here to this place and it's just great that I'm going to be given a chance to really prove what I've gone, whether it's good, bad or indifferent."

JTG Daugherty Racing had previously agreed to a technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing for 2009, but this week's announcement puts Ambrose in what had been the No. 00 Toyota for the rest of this season. He said there are two major goals.

"The first thing, of course, is trying to get the car [into the top 35] in points and the second one is to get ready for next year," Ambrose said. "Whether I can help them or not to get the car back in points, I don't know. I'll just try my best. At least it's in my control, my own destiny, to get the car in there. If we don't do it from here, I can only blame myself if I make mistakes out there on the track.

"I'm looking forward to being given that chance to start 2009 off the way we should and being in the top 35 with experience. There's a lot at stake. This racing game is about commitment, and I'm ready to go."

All seven of Ambrose's Cup starts this season were in Wood Brothers Fords (results), so he spent two days this week getting used to things.

"We did two days -- Tuesday and Wednesday at Kentucky -- just to get me comfortable with the car and the team," Ambrose said. "I feel like the product is great. Good power, good balance in the chassis. It's really going to come down to the people and how we get going with each other. It's really going to come down to my ability to rally the team around me and get what I need, and hopefully have the skills to survive at the top level."

Impressive doesn't describe Ambrose's ascent through NASCAR's three national series. He finished 33rd in his Craftsman Truck Series debut at Martinsville in 2006 but it didn't take long him to catch on. He scored third-place finishes at Kansas and Nashville, and wound up 21st in the final standings.

Last year, he advanced to the Nationwide Series, scoring six top-10s and finishing 10th in the points. In 2008, he recorded his first win at Watkins Glen -- and had the dominant car at Montreal before suffering a costly pit-road speeding penalty.

And now, after seven Cup starts in a limited capacity this season, Ambrose is being given the chance that he's prepared for since 2005.

"I feel like it's the perfect timing for me," Ambrose said. "I feel ready, I feel like I've had enough experience now. I've outlasted a lot of these open-wheel guys coming in and guys coming in from overseas.

"My goal right now is to log laps, get experience and get ready for 2009. I'll try and survive. I'll try and look good as I can out there and give it 100 percent. That's all I can ask. How it works out, who knows?"