Marcos Ambrose says that practicing and qualifying his NASCAR Nationwide Series car at Montreal will be a great opportunity for Owen Kelly.

Kelly will complete the pre-race duties for Ambrose while his fellow Tasmanian concentrates on his Sprint Cup campaign at Michigan.

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Kelly has raced Late Model stockcars in America in recent seasons, and starred on debut in the Nationwide Series with unfancied squad Baker Curb Racing at Road America last year.

“I can’t think of anyone better than Owen to step in and drive the car for me in practice and qualifying at Montreal,” Ambrose told Speedcafe.com.

“He knows the Nationwide cars so he knows what they are supposed to feel like and how to set them up for a road course.

“It’s a great opportunity for Owen to get over here, get in one of these cars and show what he can do.

“He got a top five on debut last year at Road America so he is more than capable of getting my car ready to race in Montreal.”

Kelly is still aiming to race in the season’s other two Nationwide road course races at Road America and Watkins Glenn.

Ambrose will be gunning for his fourth career Nationwide Series race win when he lines up in Montreal.

Ambrose currently sits 17th in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series after 12 of 36 races – just 23 points outside the Chase cut-off, and is testing his Sprint Cup road course package today at Virginia International Raceway.

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