Ambrose Wins, Busch Spins in Wild Watkins Glen Finish

Marcos Ambrose emerges from his No. 9 Ford victorious after a hairy final lap

In what was without a doubt the most exciting finish of the 2012 season to date, Marcos Ambrose managed to pull off a last lap pass of Brad Keselowski to score his second win in a row in the Cup Series at Watkins Glen on Sunday. Normally a feat like that would difficult all on it's own, but it was made all the more arduous for Ambrose because the entire track was coated with oil during the closing laps.

The Finger Lakes 355 at the Glen began with a threat of rain, which left teams thinking that they would be racing to halfway for the second week in a row. But when polesitter Juan Pablo Montoya took the green, rain was the last thing on any of the drivers' minds.

Kyle Busch managed to slip around Montoya off the first turn and never looked back. It appeared that if Busch was going to be beaten, the rest of the field would have to wrestle the trophy away from him.

Kyle Busch gets a tap from Brad Keselowski after both drivers
got loose in the oil on the track

Two of the first three cautions were brought out by Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing teammates Montoya and Jamie McMurray. McMurray took a hard hit to the Armco barrier in turn one, while Montoya broke a lower control arm on the left front of his car exiting the inner loop. While it was never determined for sure what McMurray's issue was, it is believed that both cars suffered the same issues.

In between owner Chip Ganassi's worst nightmare, the yellow flag flew for Kurt Busch. He spun his No. 51 Chevy when his right rear tire broke off his car, taking the axle along with it. Joey Logano also experienced issues when his No. 20 car broke a right rear shock mount, ruining his day as well.



Marcos Ambrose and his boss, Richard Petty, celebrate
in victory lane

After a caution for a brief rain shower, Tony Stewart assumed the lead. But his shot at the win was short-lived, as he got loose coming off turn seven and backed his No. 14 Chevy into the Armco barrier at the head of pit road. This meant that the race was a battle between Busch, Keselowski and Ambrose.

In the closing laps, Dale Earnhardt, Jr spun with seven to go. After the subsequent restart, Bobby Labonte's No. 47 car blew a motor, which had put down a thin film of oil all the way around the track. This would normally draw a caution from race control, but Nascar's spotters didn't report any oil to the race stayed green. With the slippery conditions, Busch's 20 car length lead was all but erased.

On the white flag lap, Keselowski, who was now on Busch's rear bumper, slid underneath the No. 18 car. Busch simultaneously slid into Keselowski's Dodge, sending him around at the top of the hill. This brought Ambrose even closer to the lead and by the time they reached the innerloop, he and Keselowski were neck and neck. Keselowski grabbed the lead off the carousel, but Ambrose swung out wide to find more grip. This helped him get by Keselowski's sliding No. 2 off the final corner and score his second career win and his second in a row at the Upstate New York road course.

This win also puts Ambrose in contention for a wildcard berth in this years "Chase for the Championship." If he can manage to score his first oval track win, it would almost assure the affable Aussie a spot in Nascar's version of the postseason. They have been on the verge of that elusive oval win all season and could very well get it next weekend at Michigan or in a few weeks at Atlanta. But with only a few races left, Ambrose and his No. 9 Stanley Tools team will have to work fast to make it happen.