Marlin out for rest of season due to injury

Marlin out for remainder of NASCAR Winston Cup season.
Jamie McMurray has been announced as the replacement driver.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 2, 2002) - Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today that Sterling Marlin, driver of the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge, will not compete for the remainder of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season.

Marlin suffered a non-displaced fracture of the #2 cervical vertebrae as a result of his accident at Kansas Speedway on September 29. Dr. Jerry Petty, neurosurgeon, and Dr. Dom Coric, spinal injury specialist, of the Carolina Neurological and Spinal Injury Clinic, are treating Marlin. Both doctors are the attending physicians. Marlin is expected to return to his full duties as driver of the Coors Light Dodge for the 2003 season.

"It is unfortunate that Sterling has to end his season early due to his injury," owner Chip Ganassi said. "Sterling has dominated the championship points race and we were looking forward to helping him win his first NASCAR Winston Cup title. We are expecting Sterling to make a full recovery and be ready to go for the title chase again in 2003."

Jamie McMurray has been announced as the replacement driver for the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge. McMurray was recently announced as the driver of the Havoline Dodge for the Ganassi team in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season.

McMurray is currently racing full time in the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division. He will continue his driving duties for the No. 27 Williams TravelCenters team for the remainder of the 2002 Busch schedule. McMurray will also compete in the remaining 2002 Winston Cup schedule except for the Martinsville race on October 20, which is a conflict date with the Memphis Busch Series race.

McMurray is currently racing in his second full season in the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division. He currently sits eighth in the Busch Series championship points standings and has accumulated three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes during the 2002 campaign. McMurray's most recent top-10 finish was this past weekend at the Kansas Speedway where he finished in the 10th position.

No news conference is scheduled at this time. The Chip Ganassi Racing team will distribute updates on Marlin's condition as more information becomes available.

-cgr-

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