#40 Coors Light Richmond pre-race report

CONTACT:  Nealie Hamilton, Chip Ganassi Racing, 704/662-9642, nhamilton@ganassi.com
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           May 2, 2002
 
STERLING MARLIN
COORS CHIP GANASSI RACING with FELIX SABATES
#40 COORS LIGHT DODGE INTREPID R/T
PRE-RACE REPORT: RICHMOND
 
EVENT:                          Pontiac Excitement 400 (race #11 of 36)
                                     Richmond International Raceway, ¾-mile paved oval
                                                
DATES:                         Qualifying: May 2, 2002
Race: May 3, 2002
                                                
BROADCAST:              Television: FX pre-race show begins at 6:30 p.m. EDT
                                   Radio: MRN race coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. EDT
                                   Race begins at 7 p.m. EDT
 
COORS LIGHT TEAM FACTS
 ·         Richmond:  In 32 career starts at Richmond International Raceway, Marlin has scored three top-5 and seven top-10 finishes.  He has no wins and no poles at the track.  Marlin's best start is third (6/6/98 and 9/8/01) and his best finish is fourth (9/11/99) at Richmond.
·         Car: The Coors Light team will take car #105 to Richmond.  Car #105 also raced at Martinsville this season.
·         Points Race: Marlin remains first in championship points for the ninth straight race (Rockingham to California).  He is the only driver to rank in the top-10 in NASCAR Winston Cup championship points since the 2001 Daytona 500.
·         Consistent: Marlin has finished in the top-10 in all but two of the races this season including non-points races.  His two finishes outside of the top-10 were 19th at Bristol and 12th at Martinsville.  Marlin has qualified outside of the top-10 for all but one race this season including non-points races.  He started sixth at Rockingham.
·         Marlin became the first repeat winner in 2002 with his victory at Darlington and is the only driver to begin the 2002 season with seven top-10 finishes.
 (Marlin career stats at Richmond International Raceway attached)