Chat Transcript: Sterling Marlin
August 22, 2001
10:01 AM EDT (1401 GMT)
[Nascar_Host1] Welcome to NASCAR.com's chat with Sterling Marlin!
[Sterling_Marlin] We are really excited to win for Chip, Felix, the Coors Light race team, Dodge and everybody. It was a great win for us!
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Juniorfan162] Congratulations on your win! How does it feel to be the first driver in twenty-five years to take a Dodge to victory lane, or in your case victory garage?
[Sterling_Marlin] It probably hasn't sunk in yet. We have been real close all year to doing it and we finally got a little luck on our side and got it done this weekend. It really sunk in yesterday when we went to Dodge Headquarters and got to see how excited they were.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [LTWit24] Hi, Sterling! You are having a great year! Last year you finished 19th in points and so far this year you are in the top five! What are the factors that have led to this improvement?
[Sterling_Marlin] Well, several things. Chip came in, and we got Andy Graves and Tony Glover as team managers and each have their own departments. Everything is really more organized and we just got better. Ernie Elliott is doing the motors, and this year we are doing our own bodies. We can change things in a 30-minute notice now.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [5off5on] Sterling, with the added 2 1/2 inches on the front air dam, is it making the car easier to handle? Or is it taking away too much downforce off the back end of the car?
[Sterling_Marlin] We carried the same car in Michigan which we finished 3rd in before. We ran a lot different chassis setup. A lot of guys were really loose no matter what manufacturer they were driving. We had to change the car up from the June race.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [erinmichelle8fan] Hi, Sterling! Do you feel that if the rain had held off, you still would have won the race?
[Sterling_Marlin] I feel like we would have been real close because early before the rain came the first time, I found a different groove on the track annd we picked up 3/10ths a lap. When I saw Ricky close on me, I went back to the same groove and picked up speed. Ricky is running better and better and they will pick up a win before too long.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [kornerman13] Why do the Dodges have such an advantage in qualifying on the superspeedways?
[Sterling_Marlin] Lord, I don't know! I know after Daytona they added to our roof and that knocked air off the spoiler and that helped us up in qualifying. That does make it real loose during the race thought, which makes them harder to drive.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [joni40] Hi, Sterling. Will Chip Ganassi still have a two-car team next year because of Jason Leffler losing his sponsor? Thanks and good luck at Bristol.
[Sterling_Marlin] Yeah, I am pretty sure they will locate a new sponsor. Several teams are looking right now, but with Chip's track record in racing, they will be able to land a good sponsor.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [NatalieNY] Congratulations on the win Sterling! I read an interesting article yesterday stating that Stedman will share your sponsorship with Coors Light to race Busch. How true is this? And how do you feel it will work out?
[Sterling_Marlin] That is news to me! I don't know anything about it. I guess someone called him on Sunday and told him that rumor. It is all false rumors, and it would be nice if it would happen, but I don't know anything about it.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [twochap] Sterling, I heard the folks at Ford claim the Intrepid is a copy of the Taurus and now they want the 2 inches of front air dam. What are your thoughts on this issue?
[Sterling_Marlin] I guess when Dodge built the cars, it was pretty close to the Taurus because at one time we were going to run a common template. After the Atlanta race they went to the wind tunnel, and Jeff Gordon was the best, then Dale Jarrett, then our car, and then a Pontiac from Bobby Labonte.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Rusty2fan] I have heard that you are running a "KISS" car later in the year. I was wondering when that will be and when it will be debuted?
[Sterling_Marlin] As far as I know, it was discussed with Andy a little bit and I don't know if it is going to happen. I think it is, and I think it will be Homestead, but that is all I know.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [sherunshot] Sterling, speaking for myself, I am tired of all of the restarts in the last 10 to 20 laps and the impact it has on all of the drivers. Do you think that NASCAR will be changing any of their rules to make the sport more competitive?
[Sterling_Marlin] I guess a caution came out for debris on Sunday, but I didn't see any. They have been doing this for a long time and I don't see them changing anything. At Bristol and Martinsville, the lap cars should restart on the outside because they way it is now, if you are restarting 5th and it is doublewide, you are really starting 10th. The leader will be half a straightaway ahead of you because he has no traffic to deal with.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [kornerman13] Did you feel you would be the standard-bearer for Dodge this year, and how much pressure were you feeling to win before breaking through at Michigan?
[Sterling_Marlin] I didn't know if we would be the standard-bearer, but I felt that with the equipment and personnel we have that we would be really competitive this year. It surprises me that we have run so well, but we have a lot of good people and good equipment.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [tigeraid] Sterling, has the problem with the carburetors bogging on restarts been solved? Seemed like it was a problem specifically for Dodges.
[Sterling_Marlin] Yeah, I think they have that cured. My car didn't really do that this weekend. There was a problem with the fuel pump. It was starved for fuel and it hesitated on restarts.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Max20] Commercials seem to be the thing to do for NASCAR drivers. Will we see any with you in the future?
[Sterling_Marlin] I have no idea! I talked to Coors the other day and they mentioned something about one, but in terms of putting one together, I don't know when that would be.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [UTFan] Do you have plans on seeing any UT football games this season?
[Sterling_Marlin] It looks like with this racing schedule I will be watching most of them in the truck on satellite. I am going to try and see the Alabama game. Our practice is over by then and I am going to try and rent a helicopter and go see the game.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [jr favoritegal] Hey Sterling, what do you think about going to Bristol? Are you excited to go there? Are you using the same car that you used last time at Bristol?
[Sterling_Marlin] Yeah, I always enjoy racing at Bristol. It is always one of my favorite tracks in my home state. We lead early last time and it will be the same car as last time. It is a good racecar for us.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [GutterBall] Sterling, what is your favorite thing about running in a race, other than winning?
[Sterling_Marlin] It is just real fun to run up front and lead laps or battle for the lead.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [are] I was wondering how much this long stretch on the road is affecting your mental readiness on race day?
[Sterling_Marlin] I just enjoy racing. It doesn't really effect me. Sometimes you are gone from home a lot, like a couple of weeks doing testing or sponsor stuff, but I have been doing this since I was 13 years old so I am used to it.
The way we have this structured at Ganassi, our crew guys get a few days off a week I think. The car is already prepped and ready to get on the truck on Wednesday evenings, so I think our road guys get off Mondays and Thursdays.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [flyingorange20] To what do you attribute your successes more, the seemingly renewed fire in your driving or the new Dodge and the team that helps you run it?
[Sterling_Marlin] I am not driving any different. I am driving as best as I can, and as fast as it will go is as fast as it will go. Our toolbox got loaded with some good tools and our guys are using them.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [beaglegirl] Hi Sterling! Why has it taken so long for Dodge to be competitive with the other makes? Do you share information with other Dodge teams?
[Sterling_Marlin] I think our car has been real competitive all year. We have run up front all year and we have been fairly good for our part. As far as sharing anything, we do our own deal with the #40 and the #01 and just keep to ourselves.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [GM_Jeff] Congratulations on the win at Michigan! Did you celebrate with a Coors Light any time after the race?
[Sterling_Marlin] Well, I would say that with the crew guys and the Dodge people, there were a few flowing!
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [GoHarvick29] Do you think Tony Stewart is going to be in a Ganassi car next year as rumored? He would make a good teammate!
[Sterling_Marlin] I have heard that a time or two in the rumor mill, but I think Tony has a year or two left on his contract with Gibbs. Unless he gets mad and quits, we won't see him over there! Haha But, I don't see him doing that.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [CATwoman22] Congratulations on the win Sterling. With Jeff Gordon 298 points ahead, do you still think there is time to catch him for the Championship?
[Sterling_Marlin] Well, you just don't know. At one time, Dale Jarrett looked like he was going to walk away with it, but he had trouble. We had trouble, and that is just the way racing is. Jeff has been hot but with a few bad races or finishes, he is right back there with us racing for the Championship.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [DEI_1] Are there going to be any additions to the Dodge teams next year that you are aware of?
[Sterling_Marlin] I don't think so. I haven't heard of any. Nothing really going on. I think we are just keeping the same teams we've got.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Congrats] Hi Sterling! What kind of car do you drive around everyday? Is it a Dodge?
[Sterling_Marlin] Yeah, I have a Dodge 4-wheel drive pick up. That is about all I ride in is trucks.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Dodgefan] What is your greatest asset to the #40 team, besides driving?
[Sterling_Marlin] Just maybe the experience I bring to the team. With Tony Glover, he has been around racing since the 70s with his dad, and I have too, and I think we both are just seasoned veterans I guess you could say.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [JoyfrmJersey] Congratulations, my friend. With the awesome chemistry you have with the Ganassi race team, do you plan on staying with them next year?
[Sterling_Marlin] Yes, I have signed up with them for two more years. I am tickled to death with all the guys on the race team. It is a great team to be around. They are all really aggressive and that is what it takes in this sport.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Klutch_40] Sterling, which driver gave you the best race at Michigan in terms of competition? And by the way, you do have the best looking car in NASCAR! You're the best!
[Sterling_Marlin] I think it is the prettiest car I have ever driven and it is the nicest every Sunday! Our car was working really well on Sunday. It just depended on where you restarted.
When Bill started the race, he was 2nd and I was 15th. I gained on him a good bit and we leveled off, but from laps 70-100 we were really good. I caught Bill and passed him.
Rusty's car was really good, too. I haven't seen anything like it. During the race delay I told him we didn't have to worry about the #2 car because it couldn't run like that all day, and then it blew up.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [DE] Congratulations on the win Sterling. How do you and some of the established Cup guys feel about the quick success of some of the new kids, and what do you attribute to their quick success?
[Sterling_Marlin] I think some of these guys are like 25, 26, or 27 years old are really talented. Just look at Kevin Harvick. He just stepped into a first class team with Richard Childress. I think Kurt Busch is going to be a real good driver. There is a lot of talent coming in.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [jyedwards] Do you still collect Civil War artifacts?
[Sterling_Marlin] Yes, I do, if I ever get time to go! I got invited to Richmond the other day to hunt some property. I haven't been in a year and a half. I have to get going sometime this winter!
[Nascar_Host1] That's all the time Sterling has for us this evening. Thanks Sterling! What are your final thoughts?
[Sterling_Marlin] I appreciate everyone logging in tonight. I appreciate the support for our Coors Light team and I am going to try to get us a win at Bristol this week.
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