HOMESTEAD, Fla – – In his final race piloting the No. 9 Stanley Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports, Marcos Ambrose struggled during Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.
After qualifying 17th on Friday afternoon, the Drew Blickensderfer-led team fought handling issues during the early stages of the season-finale and ultimately never recovered.
Hoisted as one of most notorious stock car races to wheel a stock car, Ambrose overcame contact with the wall on Lap 195 to finish 27th, on the lead lap.
The Launceston, Tasmanian native will return to his native Australia, where he’ll drive a V8 Supercar for a new team fielded by Cup Series owner Roger Penske.
“It’s been the story of our year, just fighting and gouging and trying all the way to the very end,” Ambrose said after the race. “I finished all the laps here tonight, so we’ll take it. It wore me out.
“I’m just tired, to be honest with you. I’m feeling the effects of a hot night here in Miami. The car was handling rough and I was fighting it, but that’s what makes NASCAR so great. I’m going to miss it, no doubt about it. It’s bittersweet for me, but I’ve got a lot to look forward to and a lot to be thankful for.”
In his sixth season of full-time competition, Ambrose posted just three top-fives and seven top-10 finishes en route to 23rd place in the Sprint Cup Series championship standings.
Despite limited sponsorship for RPM’s No. 9 Ford Fusion next season, Ambrose will be replaced by Sam Hornish Jr.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
