Marcos Ambrose's decision to pass up an opportunity to make his NASCAR Nextel Cup debut at Dover today was justified when his wife Sonja gave birth to their second child at 3 PM in Charlotte, North Carolina today (6:00 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time). Ambrose finished 20th in the NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday in his No. 59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion and then flew directly back to Charlotte to be with his wife.

Ambrose had been offered the chance to make his Nextel Cup debut in a second Robby Gordon Motorsport entry, but kindly declined the opportunity because he knew it would be "cutting it fine" with the impending birth. Sonja went into labor at 8am this morning and was driven to hospital where Adelaide Elizabeth Ambrose arrived at 3:04pm weighing 7lbs 11 ounces. Adelaide is a sister for two-year-old Tabitha.

"As they say, timing is everything," said Ambrose. "We knew it was always going to be close and as it turned out we would have been right in the middle of the Nextel Cup race when little Adelaide arrived."

"Mum and baby are great and Tabitha is thrilled to have a little baby sister. " continued the popular Australian driver, "Thankfully she looks more like her mum than me. "Sonja and I would like to thank everyone who has been so supportive during the pregnancy and for the well wishes we have already received."

Ambrose will continue his NASCAR Busch Series campaign at Kansas City, Kansas this weekend.