NASCAR Cup

Talladega: Sterling Marlin preview

Record Proves Marlin Can Challengeat Superspeedways TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 25, 2007)-- Ask Sterling Marlin which track on the Nextel Cup circuit is his favorite, and he'll most likely respond with Daytona International Speedway, crediting his ...

Published: Apr 26, 2007, 4:03 AM

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Record Proves Marlin Can Challengeat Superspeedways

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 25, 2007)-- Ask Sterling Marlin which track on the Nextel Cup circuit is his favorite, and he'll most likely respond with Daytona International Speedway, crediting his back-to-back Daytona 500 wins as the reason.

But if Marlin's statistics at Talladega Superspeedwayare any indication, the veteran driver could add the 2.66-mile monster oval to that list of favorite tracks.

Marlin has collected two wins, 10 top fives and 17 top 10s at Talladega's restrictor-plate track. He's also posted three pole positions and 11 top-five starts. Add those numbers to his Daytona stats, which equal a combined five wins, 22 top fives, and 38 top 10s, and it becomes obvious why Marlin is a fan of superspeedways.

"I've always seem to run well at the superspeedway tracks," said Marlin,who will make his 43rd start at Talladega when he takes the green flag inSunday'sAaron's 499. "If it weren't for all the accidents that these tracks are known for, I'd have a lot more wins than that."

Since joining Ginn Racing at the start of the 2006 season,Marlin'sNo 14. Chevy has been a magnet for disaster at the superspeedways .

For example, while challenging for histhird Daytona 500 win last year, Marlin was caught in the aftermath of a multi-car accident with fewer than 10 laps remaining. In both events at Talladega last year, Marlin's machine was damaged in pileups--one as early as Lap 10 of 189.

And in this year's season-opening Daytona 500,Marlin hadnarrowly escaped several multi-car accidents and was headed for a top-10 finish before being collected in a last-lap incident and wrecking across the finish line inq7th place.

"I love superspeedway racing," said Marlin. "It can be some of the most fun you'll have. It can also be the most frustrating. No matter how good your car is and how good you're running, you can't look very far ahead. Until you take that checkered flag, anything can happen."

Behind the wheel of his Ginn Racing/Waste ManagementChevrolet, Marlin looks to add to the 437 laps he's led at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend--that's the third most of any active driver (Jeff Gordon- 729, Earnhardt Jr., 537). He is also tied withElliott Sadler, Jeremy Mayfield, and teammate Joe Nemechek for most poles at three.

"I'm looking forward to this weekend," offered Marlin. "We haven't been to a big track like this since Daytona. I'm ready to take our Chevy out there and go to the front. I know we'll have the car to get it done--we just have to cross our fingers than we can make it to the checkered flag."

-credit: gr

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