Tire Trouble for Coors Light team in New Hampshire
Contact: Nealie Hamilton, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, cell: (704) 500-6068, nhamilton@ganassi.com <mailto:nhamilton@ganassi.com> For Immediate Release Tire Trouble for Coors Light team in New Hampshire LOUDON, N.H. (July 20, 2003) --- Two blown right front tires on the Coors Light Dodge took away Sterling Marlin's chance at a good finish in the New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sunday and dropped him down to 15th position in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship points race. Marlin started the race in 10th position due to a qualifying rainout on Friday afternoon. By lap 20, Marlin's Coors Light Dodge started to fall back due to a flat right front tire. NASCAR pulled out the caution flag due to Marlin's tire and the team came in to pit and repair the damage. Marlin dropped back to 41st position but was ready to race on the restart on lap 26. After racing for only 45 laps more, Marlin cut another right front tire that proved to be more costly. Marlin hit the wall hard and had to bring his Coors Light Dodge in the garage for major repairs. The team spent 100 laps behind the wall before putting Marlin back out on the track in hopes of gaining a few more positions. The team settled for a 39th place finish and dropped to 15th in championship points. "We cut a tire down early," Marlin said. "We thought we had a pretty good car when the race started. We brought out a caution, came in and got the car fixed. We kept running and running, and the car got tighter and tighter. I don't know if we had a slow leak and just pulled the tire off or what." "I hate it for all the guys on the Coors Light Dodge team. I either run good or terrible at New Hampshire; it was a terrible day today." The Coors Light team races at Pocono Raceway next weekend. The Pennsylvania 500 will be broadcast live on TNT television and MRN radio on Sunday, July 27th. XXX Nealie Hamilton Media Relations Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates office: (704) 662-9642 x1130 cell: (704) 500-6068 nhamilton@ganassi.com