Sterling Marlin Brings Home First Top-10 Finish of the Season at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 20, 2005) --- Sterling Marlin persevered
through several trials and tribulations to bring home an eighth-place
finish at the season opening Daytona 500.  The eighth place finish gave
Marlin his first top-10 finish of the season and placed him eighth in
the points standings.

 

"The car drove really good today," Marlin said.  "It got tight a few
times on me, but we were able to make the necessary adjustments. I made
some mistakes speeding down pit road and pitting when it was closed.
That ending was pretty wild. Everybody was bumping and banging. It was
some of the wildest driving I'd ever seen.  I wish we could have got up
there and mixed it up a little bit, but that was a good run for the
first time out with the new Charger. I wish we could have won the first
race with it, but we finished eighth and we were the top finishing
Dodge, so we'll go to California and try it again next week."

 

Marlin qualified for the race in the 18th position but by lap five had
already gained 10 spots and was running eighth.  The first caution came
out on lap 14 and Marlin, who was 11th at the time, reported that the
car was "tight on the bottom."  The Coors Light crew made a four tire
and fuel stop and restarted 14th on lap 19.

 

The Coors Light Dodge continued to run well in the high groove and
Marlin was able to run in the top 15, getting as high as sixth, for the
next 42 laps.  Crew Chief Steve Boyer called Marlin down pit road for a
green-flag pit stop on lap 61.  After a quick four tire and fuel stop
Marlin sped off pit road and was assessed a pass-through penalty by
NASCAR for excessive speed on pit road.

 

When Marlin returned to the track he was 30th.  Marlin radioed that the
car was really good as he worked his way up to 28th.  When the third
yellow flag waved, Marlin was running 28th and the Coors Light crew made
another four tire and fuel stop.  

 

Once racing resumed Marlin was able to draft his way through the field
and was up to 24th when the caution came out for the fourth time.
Marlin was reporting that the car was tight so the crew made an air
pressure and wedge adjustment after putting on four fresh tires and
adding fuel.      

 

Marlin restarted 24th but quickly made a run through the field and got
as high as 17th by lap 130.  With 70 laps remaining, Marlin continued to
let the crew know that the car was tight, so during the second
green-flag pit stop the Coors Light crew made another slight air
pressure and wedge adjustment before returning to the track 15th.

 

After another quick caution period the Silver Bullet restarted behind
teammate Jamie McMurray in the 14th spot.  The two made their way up to
the ninth and tenth spot respectively within the first lap of the
restart.  Marlin got shuffled back some though and was 16th when the
fifth caution came out on lap 154.

 

Marlin accidentally brought the car down pit road before it was open so
the Coors Light crew put on four fresh tires and added fuel.  Since
Marlin would have to go to the tail end of the lead lap anyway, Boyer
brought him back down to top off fuel on lap 156.

 

When racing resumed on lap 159 Marlin was 31st, but the Coors Light
Dodge continued to battle and was able to gain four spots before another
caution on lap 161.  Marlin restarted 25th after a fuel-only pit stop,
and Marlin continued to battle up to 20th when a multi-car accident
happened on lap 184.  With many cars sustaining damage Marlin was able
to pull the car through and restart 18th on lap 188.

 

During the restart many cars checked up causing another multi-car
accident.  In order to avoid the crash, Marlin drove the Coors Light
Dodge in the grass.  However, no damage was sustained and the Silver
Bullet restarted 13th on lap 195.  In the final five laps Marlin was
able to hang on and take the checkered in the eighth spot bringing home
the first top-10 finish of the season. 

 

Marlin starts the season eighth in the NEXTEL Cup championship points.
Ganassi teammates Casey Mears and Jamie McMurray finished 26th and 32nd
respectively.

 

The Coors Light team races at Fontana next weekend in the Auto Club 500.
The race will be broadcast live on FOX television and MRN radio on
Sunday, February 27th at 2:00 p.m. EST.