NASCAR Cup
Darlington II: Sterlin Marlin race report
Sterling Marlin has a Steamy Day at Darlington Raceway DARLINGTON, S.C. (August 31, 2003) --- Sterling Marlin and the Coors Light team were pumped and ready to roll when the green flag dropped on the last Southern 500 of Labor Day weekend.
Published: Sep 1, 2003, 7:42 PM
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Sterling Marlin has a Steamy Day at Darlington Raceway
DARLINGTON, S.C. (August 31, 2003) --- Sterling Marlin and the Coors Light team were pumped and ready to roll when the green flag dropped on the last Southern 500 of Labor Day weekend. However, an accident on lap 15 ended the team's hopes for a win at Darlington Raceway.
Marlin started the race in 13th position and when the first caution came out on lap 5, Marlin was reporting that the car was tight. The Coors Light Dodge came in for a quick pit stop on lap 10 and it took four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. After the pit stop, the Coors Light crew found that the right rear tire was flat, which might have contributed to the car being tight.
The race restarted on lap 14 and it took only a lap before Marlin's day would be changed. The field checked up on lap 15 and Marlin had no where to go but the back of Mark Martin's car. After the contact, the Coors Light Dodge was steaming and Marlin was told to go to the garage because he had a broken radiator.
"You'd think it was a restart on a quarter-mile somewhere," Marlin said. "They took off and somebody jammed the brakes on. Somebody hit me in the back end and knocked me into another car which busted my radiator. I wish they'd learn how to restart. It happens a lot. They just jam the brakes on and tear somebody's stuff up. We had a fast car and a great chance today and that was taken away from us early on, we just can't catch a break."
The Coors Light crew worked furiously in the garage for the next 33 laps. They replaced the radiator and made some cosmetic changes to the car and entered back into the race in 36th position. Marlin had to make several more pit stops to fix the damage and take on tires. The Coors Light crew eventually finished the race in 31st place.
Marlin retained his 16th place in the Winston Cup championship points. Ganassi teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears finished fourth and 35th respectively.
The Coors Light team races at Richmond International Speedway next weekend. The Chevy Rock and Roll 400 will be broadcast live on NBC television and MRN radio on Monday, September 6th.
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