Marcos Ambrose says he won't rule out returning to Australia after announcing his departure from NASCAR team JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of this season.
Having raced with JTG since 2006, when he moved across from Australia, Ambrose is reportedly close to signing a new deal with Richard Petty Motorsports for next season.
However the 33-year-old former V8 Supercar champion said a return to Australia could be on the cards.
"I have no firm plans of what will come next for me and my career," Ambrose said in a media release.
"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."
"After five years, I personally felt it was time for a change."
"(But) I will do everything I can to help JTG Daugherty transition into next year with their new driver."
"Our plan is to complete the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season with the same desire and commitment and end our relationship the same way it started with a positive attitude and the willingness to win," he said.
Tad Geschickter, who co-owns JTG Daugherty Racing along with Brad Daugherty and Jodi Geschickter, is sorry to see Ambrose leave the team.
"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 Tad 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," he said.