Homestead: Sterling Marlin preview

Marlin Finishes 16th in Season Finale at Homestead

HOMESTEAD, Fla., (November 21, 2004) --- Sterling Marlin ended the 2004 season with a 16th-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Marlin finishes the season with three top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

Marlin qualified for the Ford 400 in the 38th position and by the third caution on lap 48 he radioed the crew that the car was tight. Marlin brought the Coors Light/Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon car down pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure and trackbar adjustment.

When the fifth caution came out on lap 113, Marlin had driven his way up to 23rd and crew chief Tony Glover made the call to come down pit road for two tires and fuel only. A quick rain shower began to roll in while the race was under caution and after 19 laps under yellow, Marlin restarted 12th on lap 132.

Marlin continued to run in the top 15 until the yellow flag flew again on lap 147 and Marlin reported that the car was tight. The Coors Light/Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon Dodge came down pit road on lap 148 for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment before returning to the race in the 20th spot.

After 22 laps, Marlin had worked his way up to the 13th spot when he came back down pit road for a quick four tire and fuel stop. When racing resumed on lap 177, Marlin was running 21st. Pit strategy came into play during the caution on lap 191, while many of the leaders came down pit road, Marlin remained on the track and restarted third on lap 195.

Marlin came down pit road for the last time on lap 200 for two tires and fuel before restarting 18th. Marlin continued to fight through the field before taking his final checkered flag of the season in the 16th spot.

"This season has been full of ups and downs," Marlin said. "We had a good car today, we just couldn't seem to catch a break. We came up from the back of the field and were able to pull out a 16th-place finish. The Coors Light/Lone Star Steakhouse crew worked hard today and we will work hard this off-season to prepare for next year."

Ganassi teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears finished the race seventh and 26th respectively. Marlin finishes the 2004 season 21st in the NEXTEL Cup championship points.

The Coors Light team will spend the off-season preparing for the 2005 season before returning in February for the Daytona 500.

-cgr-