Former V8 Supercar Champion Marcos Ambrose to Drive Australia's First NASCAR Entry

Wood Brothers/JTG Racing's Tad Geschickter with Aussie driver Marcos Ambrose. (Team PR Photo)

Team Australia Motorsport has entered into an agreement to sponsor the No. 20 Truck in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the remainder of the 2006 NASCAR season. The Wood Brothers/JTG Racing entry will be driven by an Australian, former V8 Supercar Champion Marcos Ambrose.

Ambrose, 29, is the first native Australian to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Ambrose has paid his dues to earn a chance to etch his name in NASCAR's record book, recently capturing two consecutive titles in V8 Supercar, the highest level of Australian road racing.

Ambrose will now compete for the remainder of the 2006 season in the Craftsman Truck Series. "I am looking forward to competing against the best drivers and on the biggest stage in motorsports," said Ambrose. Ambrose added, "Securing an Australian sponsor for the team is an extraordinary accomplishment and I applaude Craig Gore's initiative and his investment into Australian motorsports - I am truly proud to be part of Team Australia's effort to promote Australia to our great friends and partners here in America and around the world."

Craig Gore, one of Australia's most progressive and recognizable entrepreneurs, is Chairman of Team Australia. "The goal of the Team Australia concept is give the best and brightest Australians the opportunity to shine on the world stage," said Gore. "There is no greater American sport than NASCAR, " he continued, "and Marcos Ambrose is undoubtedly one of Australia's greatest exports to the US - my own wine not withstanding."

Gore is also chairman of Aussie Vineyards Ltd, which is set to release its wines in the United States in late summer 2006 under the Au, Torrens Title, and 12 Apostles labels.

The Team Australia marketing program is a multi-faceted platform created to promote the best Australian and Australian-themed products in the US. Aussie Vineyards, RM Williams Outback Outfitters, Tourism Australia, and other progressive Australian brands looking to drive awareness and brand preference to a captive US audience will support Team Australia Truck Racing.

Featured in the primary position of the No. 20 Truck is the Aussie Experience - a large-scale interactive tourism exhibit set to launch in North America in January 2007. A mobile replica of the Sydney Opera House, the Aussie Experience will be making tour stops throughout 2007 & 2008 at some of America's largest spectator events.

East Aurora, NY-based Cenergy Sports & Entertainment manages the Team Australia marketing program. Cenergy is responsible for activating the Team Australia brands' investments in the program.

About Team Australia
Team Australia is a multi-tiered motorsports program created to provide career paths for talented young Australian professionals while at the same time being a valuable marketing tool for companies wanting to take their products and brands to the world.

In addition to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2006, Team Australia will include two cars in each of the following categories of racing - Champ Car World Series, V8 Supercar Championship Series, Porsche Carrera Cup, Champ Car Atlantics Series, Aussie Race Car Series and the US Formula BMW Series.