Marlin Beats the Heat to Take Home Third Top-10 Finish of the Season

 
MARTINSVILLE, V.A. (April 18, 2004) --- Sterling Marlin battled back
from pit stop mistakes to finish ninth in the Advance Auto Parts 500 at
Martinsville Speedway.

 

"We didn't have good pit stops today," Marlin said.  "We'd come in
second and go out sixth and come in sixth and go out ninth or 10th. We
passed Rusty most of the day, and he won the race. That red flag didn't
hurt us or help us. We've just got to work on these pit stops."

 

After qualifying 18th, Marlin quickly started to work his way through
the field.  By lap 119, when the third caution came out, the Coors Light
Dodge was running eighth.  Marlin told his crew chief that he had
started off a little tight but that he needed more grip in the front and
back.  Marlin brought the Coors Light Dodge down pit road for a four
tire, fuel and air pressure adjustment pit stop. When the race restarted
on lap 129 the Coors Light Dodge was 10th.

 

The Coors Light Dodge was slowly working its way through the top 10 cars
and was up to sixth when the next caution came out on lap 160. Marlin
reported that the car needed no adjustments so the Coors Light crew made
a four tire and fuel pit stop.

 

Marlin continued to battle over the next 100 laps and was running sixth
when the caution came out on lap 269.  Marlin radioed that the car was
really loose so the Coors Light crew made air pressure and wedge
adjustments.  The Coors Light Dodge gained a spot on pit road and
restarted the race fifth on lap 277.

 

On lap 291, the race was red flagged when a pothole developed in turn 3.
NASCAR and track officials worked for one hour and 17 minutes to repair
the track.  When the race was delayed Marlin and the Coors Light Dodge
were sitting behind teammate Jamie McMurray in the fourth spot.  When
the race was resumed on lap 302 Jeff Gordon was forced to pit due to
damage sustained before the red flag and Marlin restarted third.

 

Marlin dropped to fourth on lap 307, but was able to pass the eventual
race winner Rusty Wallace to take over the third position on lap 335 .
Marlin moved up another spot on lap 362 and was running second to Dale
Earnhardt Jr.  

 

Ten laps later the yellow flag waved and Marlin again reported that the
car was loose.  Marlin brought the Coors Light Dodge down pit road for
four fresh tires, fuel and a trackbar adjustment but due to a slow pit
stop, Marlin lost four spots and restarted the race sixth.  Marlin was
able to keep the Coors Light Dodge in the top-10 for the remaining laps
and settled for a ninth place finish for the Advance Auto Parts 500 at
Martinsville Speedway.

 

Marlin remains 14th in the NEXTEL Cup championship points just 48 points
out of the top 10.   Ganassi teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears
finished seventh and 37th respectively.

 

The Coors Light team races at Talladega Superspeedway next weekend.  The
Aaron's 499 will be broadcast live on FOX and MRN radio on Sunday, April
25th.