Marcos Ambrose has ensured that he finished in a solid position and continued to add to his 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series points tally with 25th place on a trying day in the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia today.

Ambrose qualified in 17th position earlier in the day in the #59 Kingsford Hickory Ford Fusion but unfortunately the Australian was never able to get an effective set-up and did not have the pace he expected in today’s 250-lap race.

Ambrose received the Lucky Dog when a caution was called on lap 67, vaulting him back onto the lead lap just one lap after he had been lapped by leader Carl Edwards.

The Kingsford driver ran in 22nd position for much of the race as he tried his best despite his car’s handling, set-up changes at pit stops doing little to improve Ambrose’s pace.

In the end Ambrose came home in 25th place, importantly staying out of trouble as many others crashed out to score all-important championship points to be 16th in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series standings.

Ambrose will be back in action next week at one of his favourite venues for the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.

Hometown hero Denny Hamlin won today’s Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway ahead of Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.

Marcos Ambrose - #59 Kingsford Hickory Ford Fusion

“It was just a tough night for the Kingsford team but we brought it home and got some more points on the board,” said Ambrose.

“We were a little loose into the corners when we came off the truck and it just sort of hurt us here for the race.

“I thought we were going to be better than that, so I’m a little disappointed. We just didn’t have the pace we would have liked and that meant we couldn’t move forward.

“I’m looking forward to Darlington next weekend. I loved running there last year and with the new surface this year it should be even faster.”

RESULTS: Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway
Race 11 of the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series
1. #20 Denny Hamlin 253 laps
2. #33 Kevin Harvick
3. #32 Kyle Busch
4. #6 David Ragan
5. #66 Steve Wallace
6. #64 David Stremme
7. #60 Carl Edwards
8. #1 Mike Bliss
9. #2 Clint Bowyer
10. #29 Scott Wimmer
25. #59 Marcos Ambrose 251 laps