Around the tracks 5 November 2010

MARCOS Ambrose has led two consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Races for only the second time in his career. However, luck was against him again with a 34th place at Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama, at the weekend. He was running competitively throughout the event, but a late race bump sent him into a spin, damaging his car, and any chance of victory. Clint Bowyer claimed victory from his Chevrolet teammate Kevin Harvick, in a race that featured 87 lead changes. There are three races left with Denny Hamlin and Harvick within striking distance of series leader Jimmie Johnson.

AMERICAN riders continue to dominate in the Australian Super X series. Justin Brayton, Josh Hansen and Kevin Windham again claimed all podium positions in round three at Launceston at the weekend. Brayton won three of the four seven-lap sprints with Hansen winning the third race and remaining on top in the standings. Top Australians were Yamaha rider Jay Marmont, fourth, and Suzuki's Jake Moss who had the fastest lap time of the night and finished fifth. The next round is in Auckland on November 13.

AUSTRALIA'S top kart racers are heading to Las Vegas to compete in one of the world's biggest karting events, the SuperNationals. Winner of this year's CIK Stars of Karting Series, Matthew Wall, of Victoria, received funding towards the trip. He will be accompanied on the 40-kart international grid by second-placed Kel Treseder of Bundaberg. They will race in the main event that last year attracted seven-time world Formula One Champion Michael Schumacher, F1 drivers Sebastien Buemi and Nelson Piquet Jnr and world karting champions Marco Ardigo, Bas Lammers, David Fore and Jonathan Thonon. The CIK Stars of Kartin Series was the starting point for racers such as dual V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup and IndyCar Series star Ryan Briscoe.

JOHN Bowe is in a race against time to have his classic 1969 Ford Mustang repaired for his home event at Symmons Plains, Tasmania, next week. A major engine failure sidelined him from the Bathurst round of the Touring Car Masters. He has since had difficulty sourcing replacement engine parts. Bowe is in third place in the series.