(WOMR file photo)
Richard Petty Motorsports announced the #9 team will move forward with a new driver in 2015. Marcos Ambrose, who has been with RPM since 2011, has informed the organization that he will return to his native home of Australia in 2015. This was a personal decision by Ambrose.
At this time RPM is currently evaluating several driver opportunities to help drive the #9 team forward and will make a future announcement at the appropriate time. Richard Petty, co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports, is thankful for Ambrose and his dedication to the team.
“Marcos will always be a part of our extended racing family,” said Richard Petty, co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports. “He came over to the United States with his family and dedicated his time here to giving it the best he had each week. I couldn’t ask anything more from Marcos and his commitment on and off of the track to our race team and our partners. Away from the track, he’s a family person first. That’s something I respect and we’ll miss Marcos, Sonja and their children.”
Ambrose will depart the team as one of the most successful drivers to ever race under the Petty banner. His NASCAR legacy will be cemented as one of the greatest to ever wheel a stock car on road courses, specifically the course at Watkins Glen International where he has six NASCAR wins.(Richard Petty Motorsports)
There has been speculation as far back as April that Ambrose would, most likely, head back home to Australia to race, once again, in the Australian V-8 Supercars. It was in April that the news broke that Roger Penske was very interested in getting involved in the Australian V-8 Supercars. Additionally, there were rumors that Penske was very interested in signing Marcos Ambrose to drive for Team Penske in that series.
In late July there was news that Roger Penske and Team Penske was close to sealing a deal that would make Team Penske part owner of a of Dick Johnson Racing. The team, Dick Johnson Racing, has fallen on tough times in recent years on and off the track, and if not for the support of Johnson’s business partners — CrimSafe’s Steve Brabeck and Dr Ryan Story — the operation would have died a painful death long ago.
Penske’s interest in V8 Supercar racing became public at the Bathurst 1000 last year when his motorsports boss, Tim Cindric, visited the race and spent time with Johnson.
The trip included senior Ford Motorsport figures and Penske has also flown to Australia, with a recent rumored sighting at the DRJ race base at Yatala on the Gold Coast.
All the pieces are in place, and in play, for a revolutionary change at Team Penske and DJR that would provide the funding, and staffing, for a big push from next year.(thecouriermail.com)
It makes perfect sense, with Roger Penske’s expansion into Australia, with his new car dealerships and his Western Star Diesel Tractors, that Team Penske would also jump into the dominate racing series big time in that country, as well!
Well, the only announcement left to be made is that Marcos Ambrose has signed on to drive for Team Penske in the Australian V-8 Supercars in 2015! There could be news on that subject shortly!
Tim Cindric with Team Penske has stated that Team Penske will hold a press conference on Monday. Hmmmmm!
Could that be the announcement that Marcos Ambrose is going to drive for the above mentioned Team Penske/Dick Johnson Racing in the Australian B-8 Supercar series?
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
