Coors Light NAASCAR WC team's Top-10 run in Brickyard 400 ends on pit road

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 3, 2003) --- Sterling Marlin's run in the 10th Annual Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway looked to be another top-10 finish for the Coors Light Dodge.  But a penalty on pit road and a late accident for the Coors Light team left them with a disappointing 34th place finish.  Marlin dropped one position to 16th in the championship points race.

Marlin started the Brickyard 400 in 12th position and steadily moved into the top-10 by lap 27.  The car was tight in the corners but Marlin was able to consistently race in the top-10 while the Coors Light crew made adjustments during pit stops.  

Marlin moved up to eighth position by the halfway point of the race - his highest running of the day.  Unfortunately, during a caution-period pit stop just after the halfway point, the Coors Light crew was penalized for letting a tire roll down pit road during the stop.  Marlin had to drop to the back of the field on the restart.  This put Marlin in the middle of the pack, restarting in 25th position.  

The penalty was costly.  Just 40 laps later, Marlin was involved in an accident with approximately four other cars.  The No. 40 Dodge was still able to run but the car had body damage and the radiator had to be changed.  Marlin finished the race in 34th position, six laps down to the leaders.   

"We had a good run going today but the mistake in the pits hurt us," Marlin said after the race.  "That put us back in the middle of the pack and we got caught in that wreck.  The car was running better than in practice yesterday.  We should have had a top-10 finish.  This is a big race with big money.  We should have done better but we'll just have to move on from here."

The Coors Light team races at Watkins Glen International Raceway next weekend.  The Sirius at The Glen will be broadcast live on NBC television and MRN radio on Sunday, August 10th.