Marcos Ambrose: Rumorville, Australia
As could be expected all the major newspapers in Australia and New Zealand have featured stories about Marcos Ambrose’s Watkins Glen Performance.
One paper, Australia’s the Herald Sun, has floated a rumor that I haven’t heard stateside. (Ambrose also made the front page of Australia’s ENews.)
The claim is made JTG Daugherty Racing is considering a manufacturer switch for the 2009 season. While negotiating with all four, and Chevy is considered the lead choice, Ambrose said the team is in talks with “several manufacturers”.
With Brad Daugherty injecting his name if not some cash into what was formerly JTG Racing it’s not entirely surprising they would be looking at a manufacturer switch. If memory serves - I’m too lazy to check - as a quasi-partnership with the Woods Bros JTG has been running the Roush engine package.
If I were a betting man, and occasionally I am, I’d say Ford Australia will have a bit to say in the matter. Ford Australia played a large part in getting Ambrose to America and landing him in a Blue Oval seat. I see no reason why they wouldn’t try to affect the process now with their Dearborn Michigan cousins.
It is an interesting choice that goes beyond just the money involved. Do they stay with what’s familiar and the Roush/Yates engine package, move to Chevy and presumably Hendrick power?
Or, will they be swayed by the overwhelming success of a single Toyota team and be knocking on the door of TRD’s Costa Mesa, CA headquarters?
As a sidenote, read page 3 of the ENews story how Ambrose celebrated his Saturday win and a page 10 interview on the Ambrose “trailer trash.”
Technorati Tags: Daugherty JTG Racing, Marcos Ambrose, Sprint Cup, Roush Racing, Nationwide Series
In an interview a few weeks back (on the ESPN web site) Brad Daugherty suggested that Ford for 2009 was “not likely”. In a locally televised interview at about the same time, Ambrose confirmed that he would drive whatever came his way.
I agree that Ford (and I include Ford US as well as Oz) will want keep Ambrose. The stakes? Probably everything that is needed to run like the Roush cars. After last weekend, Ambrose would be silly to settle for less and Ford will now aware of that.