Tough luck for Marlin at Texas

For Immediate Release

Tough luck for Marlin at Texas 

FT. WORTH, Texas (March 30, 2003) --- It was a sight not seen too often,
Sterling Marlin running at the back of the field for an entire race.
Marlin's Coors Light Dodge looked out of place as it started from the back
in the Samsung/Radio Shack 500 and remained there for the 500-mile race.

Due to an engine change during "Happy Hour" practice on Friday, the Coors
Light Dodge started the race in 43rd position at Texas Motor Speedway.
Within the first 50 laps of the race and during the first caution of the
race, Marlin sustained right front damage to his Coors Light Dodge.  Marlin
pitted for four tires and fuel and to check the damage.  He went back out in
25th place but on the restart he radioed in that the car was very tight when
turning and something must have broke during the incident.  Marlin fell back
to the back of the field due to the ill-handling car.

Thirty laps later, Marlin felt like he had a tire going down and pitted
under green.  The Coors Light team took their time to work on the right
front fender, which was knocked in.  Marlin lost valuable track position
during the necessary pit stop, which he was unable to regain.  Later in the
race, the Coors Light team found that the toe of the car was off by a fourth
due to the damage.

Marlin was never able to move back up the field and eventually finished in
29th place.  He currently sits 23rd in championship points.

"We had some trouble early and had to play catch-up the rest of the day,"
Marlin said after the race.  "It's a shame because we really had a top-5
car.  That early accident hurt us.  We'll try it again next week at
Talladega."

Ryan Newman, driver of the #12 Alltel Dodge, won his first race of the
season and the first win for Dodge for 2003.  Teammates Jamie McMurray and
Casey Mears finished the race 10th and 26th respectively.

The Coors Light team heads to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for the
Aaron's 499.  The race will be broadcast live on April 6 on FOX television
and MRN radio.