Marcos Ambrose has been confirmed to race in the Nationwide Series event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in August meaning he will go up against fellow Tasmanian Owen Kelly.
Richard Petty Motorsports has announced it will enter Ambrose in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series event on Saturday 17 August with Sprint Cup backer Stanley funding the entry.
Kelly will once again drive the Kyle Busch Racing Toyota, which he took to a fourth place finish at Road America in Wisconsin last month.
For Ambrose it will mean plenty of plane hopping as he will also race the same weekend at Michigan in the Sprint Cup Series.
Ambrose did the same thing two years ago when the corresponding Nationwide Series race was in Montreal.
On that weekend Kelly subbed for Ambrose during practice and qualifying, before handing over to his fellow Australian for the race.
Kelly’s services were called-on in 2012 by Kyle Busch in Montreal, who this year rewarded Kelly with the drive in the two road course Nationwide Series races in Wisconsin and Ohio.
Mid-Ohio will mark Ambrose’s 76th career NASCAR Nationwide Series start. All four of his second-tier wins have come on road courses.
With this being the first visit for the series to the popular Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Ambrose will be one of the hot favourites.
“This will be a new challenge for everyone in the Nationwide Series and I’m thankful for Stanley and Richard Petty Motorsports working together to give me this opportunity,” he said.
“I missed racing in the Nationwide Series last season, but Mid-Ohio will be a great way to come back.”
Ambrose currently sits 22nd in the Sprint Cup standings with just three top 10 finishes in the season’s first 18 races.
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