Marcus Ambrose could return to Australia

Marcos Ambrose could be set for a return to Australia after announcing he will quit JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

The two-time V8 Supercar champion has spent five years with the team and said he is seriously considering returning home if he cannot find another NASCAR team for the 2011 campaign.

"It has been a great five-year journey for me and JTG Daugherty Racing," Ambrose said.

"I am proud of being their driver and of what we have been able to accomplish together.

"After five years, I personally felt it was time for a change. I have no firm plans of what will come next for me and my career.

"I would like to continue in NASCAR and finish off what I started, but I have not discounted returning to Australia.

"I'm grateful to JTG Daugherty Racing for giving me an opportunity to become a NASCAR driver and I wish them the best in the future."

Team co-owner Tad Geschickter said he was sorry to see Ambrose leave.

"JTG Daugherty Racing and our sponsors are obviously huge Marcos Ambrose fans and we are disappointed to see him leave after five great years of building a program together from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, to the Nationwide Series, and into the Sprint Cup Series," said Geschickter.

"Marcos is a friend and he is a great talent, he will be an asset to his next team.

"While we hate to see him move on at the end of the season, we will remain focused on winning races with Marcos."

Ambrose's first appearance with JTG Daugherty Racing was in 2006 when he made his NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series.

The Tasmanian progressed the next year to the NASCAR Nationwide Series spending two years in the division before competing full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the racing organisation.

The 33-year-old has recorded four top-five and nine top-10 finishes with JTG Daugherty Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and has also delivered two Nationwide Series victories.

His career-best Cup finish is a second-place finish at Watkins Glen International last season.

Currently Ambrose has two top-10 finishes and is 27th in the driver points standings after 20 starts this season.

- AAP