CAREER TIMELINE: Marcos Ambrose

After leaving V8 Supercars as a two times champion, Marcos Ambrose has called the United States home since the beginning of 2006.

Ambrose, 38, has scored two wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and five victories in the second tier Nationwide series.

1998/1999: Competed in British Formula Ford on a shoestring budget.

2000: With finances and opportunities tight returned to Australia and ran in an one-make Honda invitational race at the Gold Coast Indy.

Against a specially chosen field of talent Ambrose duly won.

2001: Signed up with Stone Brothers Racing claiming pole on debut as well as several other signature performances highlighted by pole in his first crack at Bathurst.

After his stunning form he was crowned rookie of the year

2002: Backed up form by winning pole and a race at Phillip Island and closing the year with a Sandown victory.

2003: The rapid rise of Ambrose saw him end a five-year domination of the Holden Racing Team by supplying SBR with its maiden championship.

2004: Became the first Ford driver since Dick Johnson in 1988-1989 to win consecutive titles.

Also awarded recipient of the Barry Sheene medal for the second year running.

2005: Was on track to winning a hat-trick of titles however his widely publicised accident with Greg Murphy saw his chances diminish.

He was ultimately beaten by team-mate Russell Ingall who was helped by consistent results through the season.

During the season he announced he would be leaving V8s at the end of the year to pursue his NASCAR dream in the US.

2006: With Ford backing did a part campaign for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing in the NASCAR Truck Series.

After some promising performances he would take third in the rookie of the year standings/

2007: Debuted in the second tier NASCAR Nationwide Series in the #59 Kingsford Ford for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing.

Started with some promising performances then had a victory ripped from him by Robby Gordon.

He finished the year a promising eighth in the points, the highest of the non-main game runners.

2008: Involved in an infamous incident with Boris Said at Mexico with the American driver threatening to exact revenge.

At Watkins Glen Ambrose had to pass Said for the lead, which he duly did without any reprisal coming from Said, which saw Ambrose claim his maiden victory.

He announced his plans for the following season where he would race for JTG which would have a new partnership with former NBA star Brad Daugherty.

2009: Successfully defended his Nationwide victory at Watkins Glen before competing in his first full season of the Sprint Cup series where he had four top 5 finishes and seven top 10s.

He went one short of claiming a memorable double when second in the Sprint Cup race at the New York state circuit.

Scored a memorable third place at Bristol after looking solid for the win late in the race.

2010: Would claim a third consecutive Nationwide win at Watkins Glen.

It was to be a year of discontent in the Sprint Cup however with Ambrose dominating the Sonoma race before switching his car off the conservative fuel during a caution period.

He had difficulty restarting and subsequently saw victory slip through his fingers.

Late in the season Ambrose confirmed he would link with Richard Petty Motorsports for the following year.

2011: His year with RPM was highlighted by an epic late race move to grab the lead and win his maiden Sprint Cup race at what was his happy hunting ground – Watkins Glen.

The road course form was maintained with Ambrose winning the Nationwide race at the Montreal circuit.

2012: Took his maiden Sprint Cup pole position at Michigan and would take another pole at the Sonoma circuit.

Recorded a dramatic second successive Sprint Cup victory at Watkins Glen by taking the lead on the final corner.

2013: Returning for a third season with RPM, Ambrose had some promising early season runs before nabbing pole at Watkins Glen.

Despite leading 51 laps his race to claim a third Sprint Cup win at the circuit turned sour tangling with Max Papis in a race ending incident which saw him vent his anger.

2014: In his final year in NASCAR, Ambrose hit the headlines early in the season when he was involved in an after race fight with Casey Mears.

After a heated exchange Mears pushed Ambrose in the back before the Australian retaliated by landing a punch which saw him cop a $25,000 fine with Mears receiving a $15,000 penalty for his part in the ugly incident.

Ambrose went on to clinch a fifth Nationwide victory at Watkins Glen but fell one position short the next day of winning the Sprint Cup race when he was beaten by former team-mate AJ Allmendinger.