The Coors Light Dodge Gets Second Top-10 Finish in a Row

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 16, 2003) --- For the second week in a row
Sterling Marlin and the Coors Light Dodge found themselves in the 10th
position at the end of the race.  Marlin, who started the race 41st, was
able to pick up 31 spots during the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
using pit strategy and a new chassis.

 

"We were real good on the long runs," Marlin said.  "The car was taking
about 15 laps to come in.  This was a new chassis and a new motor and it
showed a lot of promise.  The car was real good, we cut through the
field and came all the way from the back to the front.  I am real happy
with today's top-10 finish."

 

Marlin's first report on the car's handling was "the car is loose
getting in the center."  When the caution came out on lap 28 Marlin was
running 19th.  He brought the car in for the first pit stop and the crew
changed two tires and made some minor adjustments.  By only changing the
two tires the Coors Light Dodge restarted the race seventh.

 

From there on out the car never fell out of the top-15. Marlin was able
to get as high as third but due to the numerous cautions late in the
race the  Coors Light Dodge was unable to get any higher than 10th when
the checkered flag dropped.

 

Marlin finished the season 18th in the Winston Cup championship points.
Ganassi teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears finished 9th and 27th
respectively.