Marcos Ambrose, despite a 42nd place finish, left Infineon Raceway beaming.

In his first Sprint Cup start, Ambrose began the race in seventh. He ran in the Top-10 all day until Elliott Sadler ended his chances for a strong finish on lap 84.

Despite finishing 42nd - next to last - in his first Sprint Cup start on Sunday, Marcos Ambrose left Infineon Raceway with a smile on his face.

"Elliott (Sadler) got into the back of us and spun us out, but that wasn't the problem," Ambrose said. "I was selecting first gear on the downshift when he hit me. It must have shoved the gear box and broke the gears. It put a hole in the gearbox casing."

Len Wood, co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing, is delighted with Ambrose’s running.

"He did what we all expected," Wood said. "He put it up front. He managed to get up in the top five. ... It was just unfortunate the way it worked out. ... It's one of those deals, but we leave here with our heads held high.

Yearning for an opportunity like this, Ambrose was content with his performance.

"I couldn't believe it, you know?" Ambrose said. "Here I am passing Jeff Gordon and racing with (Dale) Earnhardt (Jr.). It was everything I dreamed it would be like."

"We raced hard and we raced well at the front there. It was just a lot ofun."

Ambrose was greatful for the opportunity given to him. Ambrose will not be an unfamiliar face, as he will sit behind the wheel of the No. 21 occasionally throughout the remainder of the year.

"I just wanted to try to get in the race and just race," he said. "It's hard work.

"I wish I would have come over here ten years ago. I'm just so lucky to have this opportunity. I want to thank them so much for giving me the chance.

"Road racing is my background, it's where I feel most comfortable. I'm not saying ... every week will be like this, but this is definitely a race I'm going to remember for a long time."