Sterling Marlin Pilots the Coors Light Dodge to an 18th-place finish at Las Vegas

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

 

For Immediate Release

 

Sterling Marlin Pilots the Coors Light Dodge to an 18th-place finish at
Las Vegas

 

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (March 7, 2004) --- Sterling Marlin battled back after
a flat tire to place 18th in the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 at Las Vegas
Motor Speedway.

 

"We had a good car today," Marlin said.  "The team made some adjustments
during the first caution and we were starting to work our way up through
the field but then I felt the tire go flat.  We went down a lap and were
not able to get our lap back until almost the end of the race. It was a
tough day but the crew was able to make adjustments and we got a top-20
finish."  

 

Marlin started the race from the 23rd position and was starting to work
his way through the field when the first caution came out on lap 39.
Marlin reported that the car was tight so the Coors Light crew made a
trackbar adjustment, added fuel and put four fresh tires on and sent the
car back to the track in the 17th spot.

 

Twelve laps later though Marlin radioed that he thought he had a flat
tire, so he returned to pit road under green and got four new tires.
The Coors Light Dodge went a lap down and was running 33rd when the next
caution came out on lap 87.  This time the team made wedge adjustments
and Marlin restarted 31st.

 

The Coors Light Dodge continued to fight its way around the track and by
the fourth caution on lap 165 the car was in the 24th position.  Marlin
and the Coors Light Dodge eventually got their lap back during the sixth
caution on lap 200 and were able to secure an 18th-place finish.

 

Marlin climbed to 18th in the NEXTEL Cup championship points after his
18th-place finish at Las Vegas. Ganassi teammates Jamie McMurray and
Casey Mears finished fourth and seventh respectively.

 

The Coors Light team races at Atlanta next weekend.  The race will be
broadcast live on FOX television on Sunday, March 14th at 1:00 p.m. EST.

 

XXX

 

 

 

Jennifer Powell

Media Relations

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates

office: (704) 662-9642 x1147

cell: (704) 658-8540

jpowell@ganassi.com