Marcos Ambrose’s former V8 Supercars team boss Ross Stone has praised the Tasmanian’s maiden NASCAR Sprint Cup win, saying that it was only a matter of time before he took his first win in the premier class.
Ambrose passed Brad Keselowski on the penultimate lap to secure his first Sprint Cup win, becoming the first Australian to win at the highest level of NASCAR competition.
Stone, who guided Ambrose to two V8 Supercars Championships in 2003 and 2004, says that he knew that Ambrose was always destined to be a NASCAR winner.
“Marcos is such a focused and talented driver, he was always going to do well,” Stone told Speedcafe.com.
“It has taken a little bit longer than what we all thought, but it’s a tough gig over there. He just kept at it, and he’s finally done it.
“Hopefully it will be like when he came into V8s – the hardest win was the first. After then, he was OK.”
Ambrose’s success this morning (Australian time) came in his 105th career start. While it took him more than a century of race starts to get his first win, Stone says that Ambrose has managed the pressure perfectly – both on foreign turf and from his homeland.
“Marcos has had a fair bit of pressure from Australia, but I think he has handled it well,” he said.
“Everyone should be really proud. It was a great result.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet. I just want to let the dust settle and I’ll give him a call.”
Stone says that knowing Ambrose, he will be even more focused on taking a win on an oval course.
“I think he’s in a position now that he’s got Watkins Glen behind him, he’s got a Sprint Cup race win, I’m sure he’ll be putting all his efforts into his oval racing,” Stone said.
“One day, he’ll get the right car where they make all the right calls, all the right adjustments and any result is possible.
“Knowing Marcos, he’ll be focusing on that, 100 percent.”
CLICK HERE for the complete race report and results from Ambrose’s maiden NASCAR win at Watkins Glen.
See below for a detailed photo gallery of Marcos Ambrose’s Watkins Glen …
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