Chat Transcript: Sterling Marlin

March 9, 2001
6:27 PM EST (2327 GMT)

Host: Welcome to NASCAR.com's chat with Sterling Marlin!

Sterling Marlin Thanks to everyone for coming on to my chat today. I look forward to answering your questions.

Host: Question from: dalejr_fan: Sterling, how does it feel to be leading the points this early in the season?

Sterling Marlin It feels great to be leading them ANYTIME so we just hope we can keep the momentum up all year for the hunt for the Championship. We just have to work hard and see what happens.

Host: Question from: WarPaint: Sterling, what's it like driving for Chip Ganassi? Has he changed your operation a lot?

Sterling Marlin It has been great. He has really brought a lot of knowledge to this side and a lot of technical stuff. He also brought work ethic to go with it so it has been a big plus for our team.

Host: Question from: Sterlingfan: I would like to know what offseason change has made the most difference between this year and last. Good luck Sunday!

Sterling Marlin We just really changed everything. We changed car makes to Dodge. We started hanging our own bodies. We surrounded ourselves with really good people on all sides and we have a great motor room. It is basically a new race team with the same number.

Host: Question from: Rocket288: Sterling, you are first in points after 3 races. Do you feel that this is the year that you can win the Championship with Dodge?

Sterling Marlin Yes, I really do. We have a great race team. A lot of people didn't think we could do much this year but looking at the equipment and personnel we have, I felt that when the season started we could win races and be in the top-5 in points. I am just real excited for all the guys on this race team.

Host: Question from: FavoriteSon: Sterling, give us a summary of the Dodge vs. the rest. How difficult has the changeover been on you and your team? Thanks, Fan from Florida

Sterling Marlin We started building some Dodges in late October and early November. We put in a new fab shop so we could cut up the cars as much as we needed to. We also went to the wind tunnel a lot, so the guys worked hard at constant changes to make the car better.

Host: Question from: kellythe3fan: Sterling, thank you for coming to talk to us! Question: what do you do to prepare for the races?

Sterling Marlin I eat a bologna or turkey sandwich. I also try not to eat anything too greasy on Sunday morning. In the morning I try to eat bananas or apples for breakfast if it is going to be real hot day.

Host: Question from: dalejr_fan: Sterling, what is your son, Steadman, driving now? Are you looking forward to racing with him in the future?

Sterling Marlin He is going to run some late-model stock cars later this year in Knoxville. He is also going to run some ARCA and Busch races, too. We laid the schedule out the other day but I can't remember what it all was! haha

Host: Tell us about the Sterling Charity Benefit that is held each April.

Sterling Marlin We generally held it in January but we are pushed for time. We are looking at a golf tournament around May 9th. As soon as we get it on the schedule we will make an announcement.

Host: I've heard you're a big UT fan. Do you think UT will beat Florida this year?

Sterling Marlin I certainly hope so! Florida has a good program and UT has a good program, so it is always a knockdown-dragout between the two schools.

Host: Question from: DeePA: Hi Sterling. What is your physical training regime?

Sterling Marlin I try to work out during the winter. Once the season gets started, I also try to stay in shape. I get up at about 6am in the morning and get out the door by 7am. I don't like to sit around playing video games till midnight and get up at 11am the next day. I like to get up and get outside to do something.

Host: Question from: sammy: Hey Sterling, why do you always run so well on superspeedways? Is it your driving style or the car setup?

Sterling Marlin I don't know but I have always enjoyed racing at Daytona and Talladega. I like working the draft where you can work with other people. My dad always liked those tracks and I do too.

Host: Question from DEI: Sterling, what is the hardest thing about competing in NASCAR? The schedule, the competition, or is it something else?

Sterling Marlin The competition when you get to this level is real tough and you can't quit working hard. You have to stay on top of the game 7 days of the week. If you don't, you will look at the standings half way through the season and see yourself at 25th all the sudden. The schedule is hard on the crew because of all the traveling, and when I am at home I have a lot of sponsor obligations to deal with.

Host: Question from hands: Sterling, what is the most important lesson you have learned from your dad about racing?

Sterling Marlin When I first started he said to drive the racecar like you are qualifying every lap. That is the way I try and drive.

Host: Question from BUD_DRINKER: DO YOU SEE COORS LIGHT STAYING ON AS YOUR SPONSOR?

Sterling Marlin I hope so. I don't know the details on it but I think they are signed for a few more years. They are a great, great sponsor and I think we have the prettiest racecar on the track now. They are a down-to-earth bunch of people and I have always had a good rap with them.

Host: Question from Rus2001: One of my favorite stories is how you had to hitchhike to a race in Phoenix and one of Rusty's crew picked you up. What was going on in your mind until you got picked up?

Sterling Marlin I didn't know! We were somewhere in New Mexico and the tractor-trailer lost its engine. I had to get to Phoenix to do an appearance for Coors, and Bill Wilburn, a tire-changer for Rusty Wallace, was driving out to Phoenix for a World of Outlaws race. We saw each other in a truck stop and he asked me where I was going. I said Phoenix, and he said me too. We had a big time going to Phoenix together.

Host: What advice do you have for the guys entering their 1st or 2nd year in Cup?

Sterling Marlin This sport is really growing and growing and to just stay focused on it. Working on getting your cars running good is about all I know to tell them.

Host: What do you feel about your chances at Atlanta this weekend?

Sterling Marlin I feel really good. We qualified 12th today and until we get out tomorrow and see what we have in practice, we won't know anymore. This is the same car as Las Vegas, so if we can get the same setup, I think we will be in good shape.

Host: How would you design your perfect Winston Cup track?

Sterling Marlin We have a lot of different type tracks, so I don't know. I like all the short tracks like Bristol, Martinsville and Richmond. I certainly wouldn't do it like New Hampshire because it is too flat. Fans like to see banked tracks with side-by-side racing.

Host: Question from fan: Are you excited about the new race tracks this year and have you seen them?

Sterling Marlin No, I have not seen them yet. We have tests scheduled for both tracks, but I don't know exactly when.

Host: Question from Milo: Sterling, do you see yourself as a car owner in the years to come?

Sterling Marlin No, not really. I want to stay in the sport somehow when I quit. There are a lot of headaches with owning a team, and being in Tennessee, it is hard to be part of the hotbed of it all. I might look at being a partner in it but I wouldn't want to own the whole thing.

Host: Question from Milo: Sterling, can we expect to see you in a Coors commercial soon?

Sterling Marlin I haven't heard anything about one yet. I have done some radio stuff for them, but I haven't heard anything about doing some commercials. I would like to do one though.

Host: Question from Donnie: What do you like to do in the offseason?

Sterling Marlin I have a place in North Carolina I like to go to. I also have a friend that has a boat in Key West. I like to go to Titans and UT games, and watch my girl play basketball. Other than that, just work on racecars.

Host: Question from schellree: Hi Sterling. How are you and Jason doing as teammates? Do you help him at the different tracks?

Sterling Marlin Yes, Jason is neat. I really like him. He had a good qualifying run today, too. I think 21st. He has a great attitude and I really enjoy being around him.

Host: Question from buddy: Sterling, congratulations on your success so far this year. Do you feel the season is too long and demanding? Would you like to see more off weeks during season?

Sterling Marlin That is what my wife says! I would like to see more Saturday races during the summer. That would give the crew guys a day off on the weekends with their families. If it were me, I would definitely do more Saturday races, but that is my opinion and I don't make the rules. It would also be good for the fans so they don't have to go work the next day.

Host: Question from Rustyfan: Is there anyone in particular that you think is going to be tough to beat for the Championship this year?

Sterling Marlin It will be the normal guys. Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, and Jeff Burton, who looked like he had a real good shot last year. He got off to a rough start this year but the season is young. Hopefully we will be the team to beat and we are certainly going to try.

Host: Question from starter: How much different is the Dodge from the Chevrolet?

Sterling Marlin It is hard to tell unless you get out of one and go right to the other. We are on a different tire now and it has been 6 months since I have been in a Chevy so it is hard to tell.

Host: Question from Donnie: Are there any special painted cars this year?

Sterling Marlin I think we are going to keep the car as it is. We will do some Brooks & Dunn and John Wayne cars, but the car will basically stay silver.

Host: Question from Natalie-NY: Do you get to work with Steadman a lot on his racecars? And when do you feel he'll be ready to make a rise up to Busch full time?

Sterling Marlin It depends on what situation he gets. He is driving with Earl Sadler and I would like to see him run with them in Busch full-time. If they can get that lined up, I hope they could do it that way.

Host: Question from REDNECK920: What is the best advice you can give to someone who is starting out in racing and who is trying to make a name for himself?

Sterling Marlin You have to start at the local tracks and work your way up. Run as hard as you can and be good to your sponsors. Have a clean cut looking crew, as well as yourself, and that is about it.

Host: Question from: Hey Sterling, I heard you are a Civil War buff. How did you get into that?

Sterling Marlin From my mom, she really liked it a lot. She was good at that in school. They camped within a mile of my house in the old days so it is pretty easy to get hooked on it.

Host: Question from loveslittleE: Sterling, what would you say is your one favorite thing in NASCAR?

Sterling Marlin I grew up with it and I just love it. You think about it every day. I think about racing every day when I wake up. I think about racecars and I just really enjoy it.

Host: Sorry folks that's all the time Sterling has for us today. Thanks Sterling!

Sterling Marlin I just want to thank everyone for coming out tonight. I am running off to do a TV interview right now. Enjoy the race. Good night.