Ambrose not ruling out leaving NASCAR after 2010

Marcos Ambrose hopes that his career path continues to include NASCAR, though he says he’s truly not ruling out a return to racing in Australia.

Wheelin’ and dealin’

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Ambrose, in his fifth season of NASCAR competition and second full season at the Sprint Cup level, recently announced that he will part ways with his JTG Daugherty Racing team at the end of this season. The former V8 Supercar champion says that he recognizes that he took a risk in making that move – especially considering his role with that team was both sponsored and covered by a contract through next season.

Still, he says that there seems to be a bit of buzz in Australia about any potential for a return.

“I've spoken to a few people down there, and all have been well received, and it's actually been in the papers and on national television over the last few days, you know, obviously not ruling out the possibilities of me returning and where I would potentially go,” Ambrose said during a national teleconference Tuesday. “But my heart is in NASCAR to be honest with you. I've got unfinished business at this level of racing. I feel like I've become part of the sport but I haven't become a contender on a weekly basis, and I feel like I'm really -- if I left now, I would feel like I've got unfinished business.

“I would like to stay here in America if I could, but if it doesn't work out -- I have taken a risk right now. I have jumped out of the team that I had fully sponsored and I was contracted to drive for 2011, and right now, I don't have any contract on the table to sign. So there is a risk involved with that. I understand the risks and I am willing to take any outcome from this point and deal with it. But if I could, I would love to stay in NASCAR and finish off what I started.”

Ambrose has to be among the favorites entering this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International. He and his team, which operates out of the Michael Waltrip Racing shop through an alliance with that organization, finished second at the track last year and third the previous season. Ambrose led at fellow road-course track Infineon Raceway earlier this season and has finishes of sixth and third in his last two Cup races there. In addition, he’s won the last two Nationwide Series races at Watkins Glen and has finishes of seventh, third and second at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course in Montreal.

Obviously, he has these type of tracks figured out.

Winning here would clearly be special for Ambrose. Winning anywhere, in fact, would be nice for him – especially if he could do that this season with the group that brought him into NASCAR.

“We just wanted to finish off this year the right way with the right attitude together,” Ambrose said. “It's been a great journey with each other. We are really proud of what we have achieved and it's been an awesome experience for both sides and we want to win a race in the Cup Series before we finish, because I feel like that's the only thing left on our to-do list that we haven't achieved together.

“It's never easy making a decision like I've made, and obviously going through the issues and the repercussions of the choices that you make; so it's been a rough rode here the last couple of months. I feel like if we can get a win for them, Watkins Glen will be our best chance for the year. It will be very special for all of us, and you know, I'm proud of what we have achieved together, but I'll be even more proud if I can sneak a win between now and before the end of the season.”