The Coors Light Dodge Finishes 34th at Kansas

Contact: Jennifer Powell, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates,
office: (704) 235-1147, jpowell@ganassi.com

 

For Immediate Release

 

The Coors Light Dodge Finishes 34th at Kansas 

 

KANSAS CITY, Kan., (October 10, 2004) --- Sterling Marlin had trouble
early on at Kansas Speedway when the rear gear and drive shaft of the
Coors Light Dodge broke coming across the start/finish line for the
start of the Banquet 400.  After several repairs, Marlin was credited
with a 34th-place finish. 

 

"Something was weird going down the back straightaway coming to take the
green," Marlin said.  "I radioed to the crew that something wasn't
right. It was one of those deals where you think it's going to get
better, but we took the green in second gear and it just exploded. The
driveshaft flew out and it was just a mess. I hate it for everyone on
the Coors Light team. This is a big Coors Light market out here and we
wanted to run good, but crazy stuff just keeps happening. This track
really hasn't been too good to me. I broke my neck two years ago, and
last year we were running ninth and ran out of gas with 10 laps to go.
We ran fifth here in 2001, so it hasn't been all bad."

 

While riding around in the pace laps before the start of the Banquet
400, Marlin radioed that there was something wrong with the Coors Light
Dodge.  When the green-flag dropped Marlin was in the 28th starting
position, but as he crossed the start/finish line the rear gear of the
No. 40 broke.  Marlin was able to pull the Coors Light Dodge into the
garage where the crew was waiting to go to work fixing the Silver Bullet
and sending it back onto the track.

 

Marlin returned to the track on lap 29 after the Coors Light crew
replaced the rear gear and the drive shaft of the No. 40 Dodge.  The
Coors Light team made several adjustments for the remainder of the race,
including bringing the car back into the garage on lap 98 to change
springs, before bringing home a 34th-place finish.

 

Marlin's 34th-place finish dropped him to 22nd in the NEXTEL Cup
championship points.  Ganassi teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears
finished seventh and 31st respectively.    

 

The Coors Light crew is at home next weekend for the UAW-GM Quality 500
at Lowe's Motor Speedway.  The race will be broadcast on NBC television
and PRN radio.

 

XXX

 

 

Jennifer Powell

Media Relations

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates

office: (704) 662-9642 x1147

cell: (704) 746-5066

jpowell@ganassi.com