Furniture Row Racing has inquired about Sterling Marlin's services, with the idea of putting him in a second entry to bolster the performance of the team, which currently fields the No. 78 Chevrolet driven by Kenny Wallace.
"They've mentioned something about it" Marlin said. "I said, 'Well, if I don't run [a more permanent program] next year, I might run 15-18 races for you just to get more track time, more test time.'"
I believe Sterling screwed the pooch when he let it be publicly known that he was thinking about running a part time schedule next year. He did so without having any plans in place. I don't know, maybe he went to Bobby Ginn with it first and then let it be public knowledge to put some feelers out. But Ginn doesn't appear to be holding his breath.
Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin's contracts are both up at the end of this season. Jay Frye acknowledged Marlin wanted to go to a partial schedule next season, but said he would not be in the 01 car. Frye said plans included Regan Smith in one full-time Nextel Cup car, either the No. 13 or No. 14. He said Mark Martin's exact schedule, which includes 24 Nextel Cup points races this season, was yet to be determined, and ideally another young driver would be paired with him in the 01 car.
Jayski has reported a rumor that Marlin is going to Furniture Row.
I am hearing that Marlin will go to Furniture Row Motorsports and run a 2nd team part-time in 2008, Kenny Wallace is the full time driver in the #78 Chevy. Regan Smith would replace Marlin in the #14 Chevy at Ginn Racing.
I would love to see Marlin win. This brings me back to the question of how can Mark Martin do so well and Joe and Marlin not? It is like J.J. at Gibbs. Is the equipment and/or information not shared? Do you think it is the different driving styles or ability levels? Look at Menard at DEI. Maybe Ginn is putting all he has into Martin's car to get his program going, but you would think he would want all 3 cars up front each week.
Mark hasn't exactly been tearing it up lately, either. He doesn't have a top-5 finish since Texas.
I'd like to see Sterling go truck racing next year. That seems like a logical place for these older guys who want to keep racing to go. It's kind of depressing to think of him in a GOGH car every week for Furniture Row, especially when the depth of the series looks to be even tougher next year with some big teams adding more cars.
Mark is simply that good. He is a better driver. He is in a whole different class of drivers. He was the best driver of the 90's.
He brings years of knowledge from Roush Racing to the table as well. He can get'er done!
Ginn is an excellent team. They share everything.
It is style and ability. Sterling can not drive a coil bound car.
Menard does not have the pedigree of Truex, or the driving skills. It is obvious Menard is paying for his seat.
Martin does probably get the best people and tools in the shop because he is the number one team in the shop. And if there is an equipment difference he probably gets the best. But I feel like the equipmenbt is probably equal. From what I hear all the chassis are team cars. Skins are put on the chassis for each driver each week.
I don't know Joe that well. But he obviously isn't in the same class as Sterling. Look up his wins and compare them to Sterling's. Then look at Sterling's and compare them to Mark's. It's like they are A, B and C class drivers.
Sterling just doesn't appear to have a connection to trucks to make that happen. He has never seemed as close to Bobby Hamilton or Bobby Hanilton Racing as you might think he would. I guess they were just two different people. For whatever reason Sterling has not shown any interest in the trucks in general either.
Sterling does still like Felix Sabates and Armando Fitz. Those connections could lead him to working with a Busch team.
He had a deal to drive with Fitz Bradshaw part time sharing a seat with his son Steadman two years ago but Chevrolet wouldn't let him do it when he went to MB2 because FB fielded Dodges. I think he shoud have gone Busch racing then instead of to MB2 and helped his son out. But hindsight is 20/20.
Well, they say that. But that's not exactly true is it? Then he would have never known what might have happened at MB2.
Given his current situation, if he isn't going to go home, then Furniture Row is probably as good as it is going to get. So I would say it is probable that is what is going to happen.
It is also probable that I will be a Carl Edwards fan next year.
I think that sharing the 2nd Furniture Row car with an up and coming rookie driver would be ideal for Sterling. This would allow him to continue to do what he loves and it would help a young rookie driver to learn a few tricks from a veteran driver.
It may work for Sterling. It may not work for many of his fans like me that are hanging on by a thread. The die-hards will stick with him no doubt.
He definitely can help the Furniture Row Race team. He and Kenny together would be a hoot.
If he signs on to run 18 races, I'll keep him as my number two guy. If less, I'll punt him officially. But there will always be a warm spot in my heart for him and if he should do well, I'll stand and applaud.
Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace and Chad Chaffin are already in that box for me as far as their being Cup favorites of mine go.
Falcon, is the Furniture Row team located in the mid-west? I have heard it is. Do you think that keeps a team from being as productive as it could be when it is not in North Carolina?
If Sterling wants to run the Cup Series part-time, he should just sign a FULL-time contract with Furniture Row. They are only 8-for-17 making races this year with ONE car, adding a second would add a second GOGH-car so Sterling might get to run 12-to-18 races.
I will say this, if Sterling could somehow hop into a brand new Furniture Row car and have it in the top-35 after five races, that would be the most impressive thing he's ever done, 500 wins included. I know he did that with the Ginn car this year, but at least that team had something to take from 2006.
I'd rather see Nemechek drive for Furniture Row than Sterling, just so I could hear him say "Hi,I'm Front Row Joe, for Furniture Row" AWEEEE sometimes I crack myself up........
I don't think Sterling can help Furniture Row be competitive. He can help them. But they will still fall further behind.
Much like Rusty Wallace was, Sterling is old school. He drives and thinks old school. That is one reason why he is not doing as well as Mark Martin. Sterling isn't into the engineering and all that. Therefore, what he has to offer is limited.
well we've got Daytona coming up, Falcons.....and Sterling ran well at 'dega....and is driving a Chevy....and has Hendrick power....who knows what can happen?
oh, and did I miss something here; Kahne might go to DEI? WTF?! I guess he won't have to worry about much colour change....wonder if Ray will play nice and not apply for the #9 at seasons end if it does happen?
Falcons: Good sumnation and story.. I do think that Sterling is probably a good driver but he is past his prime. A Busch ride might be best for him. Don't know what Furniure row can do for him to improve his tenure in CUP except be a straigh man for Wallace.
I believe this knucklehead who wrote the article has no idea what Sterling has been through. He screwed the dog or whatever your lame metaphor was, was not representative of this talented 50 year old driver - one who keeps his cool (which a lot of today's top "dogs" should learn from... maybe writers too)
Let him make his plans, and realize the sport has its' play, but his family has his first priority
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