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The Gold Coast racer announced today (WED JULY 28) that he is splitting from his JTG Daugherty Racing NASCAR team at the end of this year. "I would like to continue in NASCAR and finish off what I started, but I have not discounted returning to Australia," Ambrose said in a press statement.
His Australian media manager, Mark Walker, said there was a chance of Ambrose returning to V8 Supercars as well as options to stay on in the US. "The hot tip is that he could sign with Richard Petty Motorsports replacing Kasey Kahne or Elliott Saddler," he said.
"There are options over there and options over here, but nothing planned at the moment. "We'll be talking about it in the next couple of weeks."
Walker said that if the former Ford driver did return, he had several options with Ford and Holden teams that had not yet signed drivers for 2011. "He's been driving a Toyota for the last couple of years so there's no magic allegiance there anymore," he said.
Ambrose has been with JTG Daugherty Racing for five years, competing in the Truck Series, Busch Series, Nationwide Series and the premier division Sprint Cup the past two seasons. His best result was an eighth in the Busch Series in 2007. He is currently 27th out of 72 competitors.
Ambrose was the 2003/04 V8 Supercars champion driving a Ford for Stone Brothers Racing on the Gold Coast. SBR manager Ross Stone said it was "highly unlikely" that Ambrose would return.
"I believe he's close to signing with another team over there," he said. "I think that's a real long shot (that he will return). "I'm going over in two weeks' time and I'm pretty sure that the next deal is done over there."
Ambrose said he would complete this NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. "I will do everything I can to help JTG Daugherty transition into next year with their new driver," he said. "After five years, I personally felt it was time for a change. "I have no firm plans of what will come next for me and my career."
Team owner Tad Geschickter said he was disappointed to see Ambrose leave. "Marcos is a friend and he is a great talent, he will be an asset to his next team," he said. "While we hate to see him move on at the end of the season, we will remain focused on winning races with Marcos."
Launceston-born Ambrose has recorded four top-five and nine top-10 finishes with JTG Daugherty Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and won two Nationwide Series races. His career-best Cup finish is a second-place finish at Watkins Glen International last season.
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