GEICO has sponsored Mike Wallace in the Nationwide series, but with Nationwide, a GEICO competitor, taking over, GEICO had to leave that series.

Making it an even better story, Ambrose became the first Australian to win in NASCAR when he won the Nationwide Series race, the Zippo 200, one day before. He assumed the lead with three laps to go, when Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson both had to pit.

All in all the weekend was a career weekend for Ambrose, and a shot in the arm for both JTG Racing and Wood Brother’s Racing.

While I don’t think Ambrose is going to suddenly turn WBR around, he certainly is walking a little bit taller. And with the five races he has left with the team, look for him to try to learn all he can and gain all the respect he can.

If he stays focused, he should be able to improve the team’s position in the standings, by making races and staying out of trouble, much like he did on Saturday and Sunday.

But, a deal was reached with Petty Enterprises No. 45 Dodge for Said to drive the car in place of Kyle Petty, who was originally scheduled to drive. Said had to secure permission from Ford, which he did.

He will start 40th.

Said was also approached by Yates Racing to drive the No. 28 in place of Travis Kvapil.

David Gilliland, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, and Casey Mears rounded out the top 5.

Juan Pablo Montoya, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart finished sixth through 10th respectively.

Notables: Greg Biffle (11th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (12th), Jeff Burton (14th), Jimmie Johnson (15th), David Ragan (24th), Denny Hamlin (27th), Kevin Harvick (30th), Kurt Busch (32nd), and Kasey Kahne (33rd).

Road course ringers: Ron Fellows (29th), Max Papis (35th), Scott Pruett (36th), Boris Said (41st), Marcos Ambrose (42nd), Brian Simo (43rd).

In the closing laps, Harvick tried to out-brake Gilliland in one of the corners, and got into the corner a little too hot. His car snapped loose and he spun. He got into the back of McMurray, who then got into the back of Stewart, sending them spinning.

Stewart rebounded, but McMurray, who ran in the top 5 for most of the day, and Harvick never fully recovered.

After the race, Marty Snyder asked Stewart about the spin. Stewart said:

I haven’t seen it yet so it wouldn’t be fair for me to comment on it.

Snyder pressed the issue, saying that this is the second time Harvick spun him, of late.

Stewart didn’t seem pleased by this and noted, again, that he hadn’t seen it and would not comment on it.

Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, and Jeff Gordon round out the top 5.

Elliott Sadler, Marcos Ambrose, Robby Gordon, Ryan Newman, and Greg Biffle will start sixth through 10th, respectively.

Notables: Carl Edwards (12th), Denny Hamlin (13th), Boris Said (14th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15th), Clint Bowyer (19th), Jeff Burton (20th), Juan Montoya (21st), Ron Fellows (22nd), Scott Pruett (27th), Max Papis (28th), Kyle Busch (30th), Kevin Harvick (32nd), Matt Kenseth (33rd), and Tony Stewart (39th).

J.J. Yeley, Dario Franchitti, and Scott Riggs did not make the race.

He did not want to fall out of the top 35 in owner points, and if he does, he will end up further behind on race setup, Smith says, because he’ll have to qualify for races on time.

Sorenson said:

I’m not hurt at all. The thing is, what I am hurt by is that we’re this far back in points and have to worry about it. That upsets me and Chip both the most. Scott should be better at the road course. He should be better than me. It’s what he does. It would be a bad idea if we didn’t try that.

Sorenson and the No. 41 are battling Robby Gordon, who performs well on road courses, and Regan Smith, whose No. 01 Chevy will be driven by Ron Fellows, to stay in the top 35 in points.

Smith commented:

I was typically skeptical about these types of decisions until recently, when I saw what Mike Skinner did for A.J. Allmendinger’s confidence. Ever since Skinner got in the No. 84 Toyota and helped assess some of the team’s shortcomings, Allmendinger has flourished.