Sterling Marlin and the Coors Light crew finish 29th in New Hampshire

Contact: Jennifer Powell, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, cell:
(704) 658-8540, jpowell@ganassi.com

 

For Immediate Release

 

Sterling Marlin and the Coors Light crew finish 29th in New Hampshire

 

LOUDON, N.H. (September 14, 2003) --- Sterling Marlin and the Coors
Light team worked hard and stayed in the top-20 all day despite the car
being tight and vibrating.  Unfortunately, a late race green-flag pit
stop resulted in a stop-and-go penalty for pitting outside the box and
the team finished 29th in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire
International Speedway. 

 

"We fought the car all day," Marlin said.  "In the beginning it was
tight and then about halfway through the race it started to vibrate and
it was hard to turn the car.  The Coors Light team worked hard today and
we'll just have to get it next week at Dover."

 

Marlin started the race in the ninth position but reported early on that
the car was tight.  Marlin was able to keep the car running in the front
of the field until the first round of pit stops on lap 85.  The Coors
Light crew took four tires, fuel and made a trackbar adjustment to try
and fix the car.  However, 30 laps later Marlin reported that the car
was still tight.  Marlin continued to run in the 16th position and when
the yellow flag waved on lap 126 he brought the Coors Light Dodge in for
more adjustments.  

 

The Coors Light team used pit strategy on lap 182 when they stayed out
during a caution for track position.  Marlin took over the fourth spot
and was able to stay in the front of the field for several laps before
the car started vibrating.  The team pitted on the next caution and
restarted on lap-198 in 15th place.  Marlin fought hard to work his way
up to 11th with 17 laps to go.  Then on a green-flag pit stop for fuel
only on lap 286, Marlin received a stop-and-go penalty for pitting
outside his box.

 

Marlin and the Coors Light team ended the race in the 29th position.
Marlin maintained his 17th place in the Winston Cup championship points.
Ganassi teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears finished 10th and 17th
respectively.

 

The Coors Light team races at Dover International Speedway next weekend.
The race will be broadcast live on NBC television and MRN radio on
Sunday, September 21st.

 

XXX

 

 

Jennifer Powell

Media Relations

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates

office: (704) 662-9642 x1147

cell: (704) 658-8540

jpowell@ganassi.com