Marcos Ambrose came a long way - halfway around the world - to start his career in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He's come even farther as a driver.

While he insists his rookie season remains a learning experience, Ambrose already is up to speed. A third-place finish last week at the Kansas Speedway has Ambrose and his Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards race team thinking about winning this Saturday night's Built Ford Tough 225.

"The plan at all these tracks that I haven't been to before is to just ride around where I'm comfortable to learn," Ambrose said. "In the past few races, I've become more comfortable running up front."

Ambrose was a road-racer in Australia before signing a driver development deal with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing and Ford Motorsports. The first three races were supposed to be a struggle as Ambrose made the difficult adjustment from sports cars to trucks. The first three races produced finishes of 33rd, 34th and 36th.

Apparently Ambrose is a quick study. His last three races have ended with dramatic improvement - finishes of 26th, 18th and third.

"I excited for the team," Ambrose said. "I joined Wood Brothers/JTG Racing this year and they've been so good to me. I started my first one-and-a-half mile oval at Charlotte and crashed on the fourth lap after qualifying third. We had to wind it back a little bit and regroup and just understand how to race these things.

"Those guys and the Wood Brothers/JTG team, and Ford, who plucked me out of Australia to come over here and have a crack at it. And my wife, I dragged her halfway across the world with a two-month-old baby."

Ambrose said the team still is building for the future. And while there may be struggles ahead in his rookie season, he has a greater understanding - and appreciation - of what his Ford F-150 needs to be fast.

"It's very hard to adapt," he said. "I've never driven on ovals, I've never driven stock cars. I've come from a road-race background, so it's been a very difficult transition and wasn't one we expected to be easy. We're still in the learning process of all that.

"The move from Australia, I was kind of a big fish in a pretty small pond and now I'm small fish in a huge ocean over here. I've really got to find my mark. We're breaking new ground and I'm here to hopefully find my own little spot in NASCAR. I just want to compete and be part of the whole show."

Marcos Ambrose Fast Facts

• Marcos Ambrose will be making his 10th career start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
• Ambrose has earned $9,368 in nine starts this year.
• Born in Launceston, Tasmania.
• Ambrose won three consecutive V8 Supercar Series Championships in Australia starting in 2003.
• Helped Ford win the manufacturer's V8 Supercar Series Championship in 2008.
• Will drive the No. 20 Ford F-150 for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing in 2005.