Sixth place finish for Marlin at Michigan

Contact: Nealie Hamilton, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, nhamilton@ganassi.com <mailto:nhamilton@ganassi.com>, work: (704) 662-9642, cell: (704) 500-6068

For Immediate Release

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 16, 2003) --- It was Sterling Marlin's day at Michigan International Speedway. Well, for 157 laps of 200 it was.

Marlin went from starting 30th in his Coors Light Dodge to leading the race on lap 59. He went on to lead the most laps and was headed for a clear victory until a caution came out on lap 157 for debris on the racetrack. On the restart, Marlin missed a shift and fell back to 13th position. He did not have enough time to make it back to the front and had to settle for another sixth place finish.

"We led the most laps for the second straight week, and we just haven't got a whole lot to show for it," Marlin said after the race. "I missed a gear on that restart and we got behind and that's all there was to it. The car was really good today. It was just as good at the end as it was early on. We just lost track position and that's the name of the game. We led the most laps and finished sixth last week and did the same thing again this week.

"We could have easily won both races. This Dodge should have won today. I just messed up, and that's really all that I can say about it. Maybe things will go our way and we'll get a top-5 and a win before much longer. It's tough on the team when the driver lets 'em down, but we'll bounce back and get us one soon."

Marlin has not scored a top-5 this season. This is his fourth sixth place finish of the year. Marlin moved up one spot to ninth place in championship points. Ganassi teammates and rookies, Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears finished 14th and 20th respectively.

The Coors Light team travels to Infineon Raceway this weekend for the Dodge / Save Mart 350. The race will be broadcast live on FOX television and MRN radio at 1:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, June 22.

XXX

Nealie Hamilton
Media Relations
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
office: (704) 662-9642 x1130
cell: (704) 500-6068
nhamilton@ganassi.com