Chip Ganassi Racing Dover II qualifying

DOVER, Del. (September 21, 2001)– Sterling Marlin, driver of the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge Intrepid R/T, turned in a 26th place qualifying start for the MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 at Dover Downs International Speedway. During Friday’s qualifying, Marlin completed his lap with a time of 23.576 seconds (152.698 mph) around the 1-mile banked concrete speedway.

“ We just haven’t hit the right combination yet,” Marlin said. “ I think we’ll race good. The car really turns good. We were a little loose early and we got it too tight, then we got it too loose again. We gambled for qualifying. I thought the first lap was pretty decent.”

Jason Leffler, rookie driver of the No. 01 Cingular Wireless Dodge Intrepid R/T, ran a qualifying lap of 23.813 seconds (151.178 mph). Leffler’s lap was not fast enough to qualify on time and the team did not get a provisional due to their championship points position. The Cingular Wireless team will not start the MBNA Cal Ripken 400.

“ That wasn’t what we needed,” Leffler said. “ It’s pretty disappointing. We finished 13th here last time, and that’s been our best run of the season. I thought we could improve on that, but we won’t get a chance to do that now.”

The MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 will be broadcast on NBC this Sunday, September 23 at 12:30 p.m., e.s.t.

-CGR-