Marcos Ambrose has put in yet another consistent effort in his rookie NASCAR season to finish 16th at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia today.

Ambrose faced a tough battle to get up to speed on the Atlanta layout when Friday's activities were washed out due to heavy rain. With only one practice session before qualifying the Australian adapted remarkably well and qualified the Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards Ford F-150 12th fastest.

Ambrose then drove a smart and consistent race to finish 16th in the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200, the result rising him two places in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings.

The two-time Australian V8 Supercar Champion ran strongly all day and rued missing a top 10 finish, but still leaves Atlanta pleased with the consistent pace shown by the Aussie Vineyards F-150.

Ambrose ran just outside the top 10 for the majority of the race, saving his truck for the final dash to the line, but a set-up change for the final stages did not quite have the desired effect, leaving Ambrose to finish with a respectable 16th place finish.

Mike Bliss won today's race ahead of the Ford F-150s of Terry Cook and Erik Darnell.

Marcos Ambrose - No. 20 Team Australia/Aussie Vineyards Ford F-150
"We ran a competitive race and tried a more aggressive set-up for Atlanta," said Ambrose. "This is the first 1.5 mile oval we have run where the surface is worn in enough that there are three or four grooves. It was fun to run in some different grooves and run in different places at different times out there in the pack."

"We definitely had a better truck than this result indicates. We should have run top 10 here today. We just over-compensated on a set-up adjustment that we made for the run to the end. We got out of position and just didn't end up where we should have been."

"I'm happy with the day we had here today. We were consistent and did a pretty good job in the circumstances. After Friday was rained out it only gave us one practice session, which puts you behind a little bit when you're a rookie. Some guys got the set-up spot on and some missed it."

"We had a good truck today and that shows the strength of this team and how far we have come along, because one hour isn't really that much to get a set-up. We are progressing nicely and we can take some confidence into the next one."

Craig Gore - Team Australia
"Yet another solid performance from Marcos today," said Gore. "He was unlucky not to get another top 10 finish today and I am sure Marcos and the Team Australia crew will continue this form and finish the season strongly in the last three events. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Marcos and the Aussie Vineyards F-150 will go in Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami."