After one full Cup season Marcos Ambrose is a hero in Australia
Marcos Ambrose has accomplished some good things while far from home and you can bet the entire Australian racing community has taken notice. That might be an understatement.
After just one full season on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, during which he drove for JTG Daugherty Racing, Ambrose is something of a hero in Australia.
In early December Ambrose received the Sir Jack Brabham Award from the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport, the governing body of motorsports in Australia.
The award recognizes outstanding achievement and success by an Australian driver at the international level.
Even if he had never set foot in the United States, Ambrose, who hails from Launceston, Tasmania, would be ranked as one of Australia’s best drivers.
He won four Tasmanian junior karting titles before he was 16 years old. He won the 1999 British Formula Ford championship. He entered the V8 Supercar Series in 2001 and was the champ in 2003 and 2004.
“Marcos was a hero in Australia before he ever came to the United States,” said Humpy Wheeler, chairman and CEO of The Wheeler Co. “You might say he was the Dale Earnhardt of that country.”
Although he didn’t need to leave Australia to become a successful driver, Ambrose wanted to try his hand in NASCAR. So he came to the United States. He really didn’t have much of a plan, to be honest. He just wanted to let it be known he was available to anyone who would take a chance on him.
As it evolved he got a full-time gig with JTG Daugherty for 2009 after three seasons in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.
He had a surprisingly good season. He finished among the top five 4 times, 7 times among the top 10 and had an average finish of 19.2. He finished 18th in points.
With his engaging personality he became popular with the media, sponsors and fans.
Folks in Australia saw it all.
“It was television,” said Wheeler. “To become a real star in Australia a person needs to leave the country. Australians really don’t have a sport of their own although they play soccer, rugby, golf and other sports at championship levels.
“But anyone who does well in America or Europe becomes famous in Australia. And the telecasts of NASCAR races have blown Marcos out of proportion.”
Wheeler has taken a particular interest in Ambrose because the Wheeler Co. is involved in something he calls “Project Australia.”
“Let’s just say it’s all about the enhancement of Marcos Ambrose,” Wheeler said. “My son Tripp spent three weeks in Australia recently and some interesting things have been going on.
“Marcos has received over $1 million in endorsements from various companies. It’s been really interesting to see what’s happened to a NASCAR driver from out of the country.
“It’s been a milestone for NASCAR and a portent of things to come as we get drivers from other countries.”
Ambrose returns in 2010 with JTG Daugherty and if he enjoys an even better season his status in Australia – and NASCAR – will grow significantly.
