Sterling Marlin has a Steamy Day at Darlington Raceway

 

DARLINGTON, S.C. (August 31, 2003) --- Sterling Marlin and the Coors
Light team were pumped and ready to roll when the green flag dropped on
the last Southern 500 of Labor Day weekend.  However, an accident on lap
15 ended the team's hopes for a win at Darlington Raceway.

Marlin started the race in 13th position and when the first caution came
out on lap 5, Marlin was reporting that the car was tight.  The Coors
Light Dodge came in for a quick pit stop on lap 10 and it took four
tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.  After the pit stop, the Coors
Light crew found that the right rear tire was flat, which might have
contributed to the car being tight.

The race restarted on lap 14 and it took only a lap before Marlin's day
would be changed.  The field checked up on lap 15 and Marlin had no
where to go but the back of Mark Martin's car.  After the contact, the
Coors Light Dodge was steaming and Marlin was told to go to the garage
because he had a broken radiator.

"You'd think it was a restart on a quarter-mile somewhere," Marlin said.
"They took off and somebody jammed the brakes on.  Somebody hit me in
the back end and knocked me into another car which busted my radiator.
I wish they'd learn how to restart.  It happens a lot.  They just jam
the brakes on and tear somebody's stuff up.  We had a fast car and a
great chance today and that was taken away from us early on, we just
can't catch a break."   

 

The Coors Light crew worked furiously in the garage for the next 33
laps.  They replaced the radiator and made some cosmetic changes to the
car and entered back into the race in 36th position.  Marlin had to make
several more pit stops to fix the damage and take on tires.  The Coors
Light crew eventually finished the race in 31st place.  

 

Marlin retained his 16th place in the Winston Cup championship points.
Ganassi teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears finished fourth and
35th respectively.

 

The Coors Light team races at Richmond International Speedway next
weekend.  The Chevy Rock and Roll 400 will be broadcast live on NBC
television and MRN radio on Monday, September 6th.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Powell

Media Relations

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates

office: (704) 662-9642 x1147

cell: (704) 658-8540

jpowell@ganassi.com