This weekend will be pretty hectic and pretty nerve-racking for Australian-native Marcos Ambrose. The Nationwide Series regular is set to make his first career Cup Series start at Infineon Raceway for the Wood Brothers, while attempting to pull "double-duty", racing both the Cup Series and Nationwide Series events.

Ambrose - a former two-time Australian V8 Supercar champion - came to the United States in 2006 in order to drive in the premier stock car sport in the world. Sunday, Ambrose will make history and have the chance to add his name to an exclusive list, becoming only the sixth driver from the "land down under" to start a Cup Series event.

Here's the catch - with the Wood Brothers No. 21 currently 43rd in owner points, Ambrose will be forced to lay down a hot lap in Friday afternoon's qualifying session in order to even make the show.

"There's a level of excitement, trepidation and anticipation. If I didn't have to qualify that car in, I'd have a totally different mindset," Ambrose said. "I'd just be totally fizzed to get it there.

"The very start of the weekend is the most difficult it's going to get. I'm anxious about getting the car in on speed, get it solid in for the race and that's what I'm focused on. I'm really focused on that. I'm anxious to get that car in. Running for the Wood Brothers is special and I just want to do them proud and hopefully put on a good show for my first Cup start."

With road course specialists A.J. Allmendinger, Dario Franchitti, Patrick Carpentier, Boris Said and Max Papis (who will be driving the No. 66 Haas CNC Racing entry this weekend) all outside the top-35 in owner points, making the show will be no easy task for Ambrose.

"There's no doubt that road racing is my cup of tea," Ambrose agreed, however the Cup Series rookie admits there is some pretty stiff competition. "I mean, A.J. Allmendinger is qualifying in, [Dario] Franchitti is going to qualify in and maybe [Sam] Hornish as well. There's a lot of really good road racers. Boris Said is trying to get his car in. There's a lot of people that's going to try and get in the race. There's no guarantee to get us in there. I'm anxious about it. I really want to do well. I think I've done everything I can to get ready for it."

Friday's qualifying session will certainly have a major impact on Ambrose's weekend one way or another. The Nationwide Series regular is planning on making the trip from Sonoma, Calif. to Milwaukee, Wis. in time for the Camping World RV Rental 250.

Veteran driver Robert Pressley will be filling in for Ambrose in Milwaukee on Friday and Saturday, as he is en route from Infineon.  If Ambrose successfully puts the No. 21 Ford Fusion in Sunday's show, Pressley will pilot the No. 59 STP Ford in both practice and qualifying sessions at the Milwaukee Mile for JTG Racing, and even has the potential to run the race in the event Ambrose does not make it in time.

While a momentous weekend for Ambrose, this is not the first time the Australian-native's name has graced the entry list for a Cup Series event. Following an on-track incident in a Nationwide Series race in Montreal with Robby Gordon last year, the two made up when Gordon agreed to field a second Cup car for Ambrose at Watkins Glen. Unfortunately for Ambrose, rain washed out qualifying and he never got his shot to make the race since the field was set by owner points.

Although he will again have to make the race on time, look for this Tasmanian devil - he really is from Tasmania - to be a factor once in the show. Ambrose is fresh off a sixth-place finish last week at Nashville and had his best career finish at the road course in Mexico City earlier this year.

"It's a big week," Ambrose explained. "It's one of the biggest weeks of my career, logistically and the pressure and the expectation and everything. As professionals you've got to deal with all of that. I think it will be okay. I'm looking forward to it."