NASCAR WCUP: Marlin and Leffler prepared for Darlington's Southern 500

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 30, 2001

Sterling Marlin, driver No. 40 Coors Light Dodge Intrepid R/T

· Marlin's best career start in the Southern 500 is 1st (1992) and his best finish is 4th (1987). Marlin has scored three top-5s and seven top-10s throughout his 17 Southern 500 starts. In the 2000 event, Marlin started 33rd and finished 17th.

· Marlin is currently fourth in overall NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship points. His highest championship finish ever is third (1995) when he won three races and scored nine top-5 finishes.

· Marlin is the only driver to remain in the top-10 in NASCAR Winston Cup championship points all season.

· Dominant Dodge: Marlin has lead the way for Dodge all season. He has seven top-fives and 13 top-10s. Marlin gave Dodge their first 2001 win in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway.

Jason Leffler, driver No. 01 Cingular Wireless Dodge Intrepid R/T

· In the March 2001 Darlington race, Leffler started in the 40th position and finished 39th.

· Leffler is currently fourth in Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year points.

· Leffler's best start of the season is 11th in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan. His best finish is 13th in the MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover.

Sterling Marlin, driver, No. 40 Coors Light Dodge Intrepid R/T:

"At Darlington you really have to race the track and you have to stay pretty focused all day long. You run so close to the wall that you can get into it pretty quick. Rubber builds up six inches away from it and one little slip and you're in the fence. I enjoy racing there. It's a fun track to me."

"When you pit you're gonna need four tires. It's real hard on tires and the pit crews get a good workout because you have to change four tires just about every time you stop."

Matt Chambers, crew chief, No. 01 Cingular Wireless Dodge Intrepid R/T:

"It's hard to run at Darlington because the groove is right next to the wall. At most tracks the guys run down the straight-aways and then go down to the white line in the corners and then back up. At Darlington, the groove is literally a foot off the wall so your margin for error is a foot. If you miss your mark a little or the car isn't turning good enough you end up getting a Darlington stripe."

Text provided by Nealie Hamilton