Marcos Ambrose pins 2012 Chase hopes on Sonoma win

The former Australian V8 Supercars champion, who has already a Cup win under his belt claimed at Watkins Glen last year, has finished no worse than sixth in his last three outings at the 1.99-mile track, where he has previously been a victory contender.

Last week at Michigan the Richard Petty Motorsports driver kept his hot streak rolling after claiming his maiden pole position while setting the lap record for the newly repaved track. During the race he went on to finish ninth, scoring his third top-10 finish in the last five races.

Ambrose currently ranks 17th in the Cup standings so needs wins to become a contender for a wildcard entry into this year's Chase. Joey Logano and Kasey Kahne, both race-winners this season and very likely wildcard contenders, currently rank right ahead of him in the points.

"I've achieved a lot just to make it to NASCAR, then to make it to Sprint Cup, have a pole position, have won a race, it feels very rewarding," says Ambrose.

"I'm content. But that being said, I'm in a great team, I'm in the best position I've ever been in the sport. I feel I have a competitive team each and every week. I have people around me that believe in what I'm doing...

"We have unfinished business. We want to win races on ovals, win more than one race a year.

"Right now as I sit here mid-season, we still feel we have a chance to make the Chase if we can win some races. We have speed. We have to convert them into results."

Jimmie Johnson, who claimed his maiden road course win at Sonoma two years ago after Ambrose stalled his car under caution while leading, believes the Australian will once again be the benchmark this weekend.

"Marcos has amazing talent and a tonne of experience in the closed-wheeled sedan cars with all the racing he did in Australia," said Johnson. "He's just on it. The guy is going to be super fast once again. I think going in there, he's the guy we're all focused on beating."