Sterling Marlin Captures Fifth Top-10 of the Season
Contact: Jennifer Powell, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, cell: (704) 658-8540, jpowell@ganassi.com For Immediate Release v JOLIET, Ill., (July 11, 2004) --- Sterling Marlin piloted the Coors Light Dodge to a seventh-place finish in the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Marlin worked his way from 32nd to obtain his fifth top 10 of the 2004 season and his highest finish at Chicagoland Speedway in four starts. The Coors Light Dodge took the green flag in the 32nd position and had traveled up to the 25th position by lap 18 when the first caution came out. Marlin reported that the car was tight on exit so he brought the Coors Light Dodge down pit road for right-side tires, fuel and an air pressure and wedge adjustment. When racing resumed on lap 23, Marlin was running in the 16th spot thanks to the Coors Light crew's quick pit stop. Marlin continued to run in the top 20 and was 17th when the third yellow flag waved on lap 39. This time the Coors Light crew put on left-side tires and took the rubber out of the left rear. The Coors Light Dodge restarted 15th when racing resumed on lap 42. The Coors Light Dodge moved quickly around the 1.5-mile tri-oval and had worked its way up to third by lap 87. The Coors Light Dodge took over the lead on lap 95 and was able to keep it until lap 100 when Marlin brought the car down pit road for a green-flag pit stop. The Coors Light crew fitted the car with four fresh tires and fuel and sent the Coors Light Dodge back to the track in the 14th spot. The yellow flag waved once again on lap 119 while Marlin was running eighth. After a quick two tire and fuel stop, the Coors Light crew sent the car back on the track second, behind rookie Kasey Kahne, poised to take over the lead once again. The Coors Light Dodge had not even gone a half a lap on the restart of lap 126 when an accident brought out the fifth caution. The accident between eventual race winner Tony Stewart and Kahne took place right in front of the Coors Light Dodge but Marlin was able to quickly maneuver around and keep the second spot. Over the next 46 laps between caution flags, Marlin was able to hold onto a spot in the top five and was back up to second on lap 172 when the caution came out. The Coors Light crew made another four tire and fuel pit stop and Marlin restarted fourth on lap 177. After 31 laps of green-flag racing the yellow flag was displayed and Marlin reported that the current set of tires were not good and he was loose getting into turn one. The Coors Light Dodge was given right-side tires and fuel and headed off pit road with the lead. However, on the restart on lap 214 Marlin missed the shift and dropped back three spots to fourth place. Marlin took the checkered flag 53 laps later in the seventh position. "The last set of tires was not as good as the rest," Marlin said. "Then I missed the shift on the restart. I'm happy with the top-10 finish but think that the Coors Light Dodge could have made a run for it tonight. The crew worked really hard to keep me out in front and we were able to work our way up 25 spots from the start of the race. We'll take next weekend off to get refreshed and be back at New Hampshire ready to make a run at 10th place in the championship points." Marlin's top-10 finish elevated him one spot to 19th in the NEXTEL Cup championship points, just 232 points out of the top 10. Ganassi teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears finished 13th and 15th respectively. The Coors Light crew has next weekend off before starting the final 18-race stretch. Marlin and the Coors Light Dodge will be testing next Monday and Tuesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before heading to New Hampshire the weekend of July 23rd. XXX Jennifer Powell Media Relations Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates office: (704) 662-9642 x1147 cell: (704) 746-5066 jpowell@ganassi.com