The preliminary Nextel Cup entry list for Saturday's Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway includes 48 teams and marks the return of driver Sterling Marlin. Marlin, a popular veteran and Tennessee native, returns to the track this weekend as the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet. He has not driven since Ginn Racing sold his team's points to Dale Earnhardt Inc. as part of a merger, leaving Marlin without a team.
WTVF-TV Nashville reported at 6:00pm/et newscast that Sterling Marlin will drive the #78 Chevy at Bristol, Martinsville, Richmond, Dover and possibly Talladega. Marlin is also negotiating to drive the #78 for about half the 2008 season.(WTVF-TV Nashville)(8-21-2007)
Furniture Row Racing has a seat ready for Sterling Marlin
Marlin will try to qualify the No. 78 Chevrolet for Saturday night's Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway as Furniture Row continues its search for a driver or two.
It's tough," Marlin said of qualifying. "I don't wish it on anybody to get in that position. One little slip and you go home. We'll go to Bristol, and the whole field will probably be within three-tenths of each other."
Marlin, who was in town last week to have a seat fitted, has been talking with FRR about possibly driving a second car next season if a sponsor can be found.
"They wanted me to run a second car for them, 15 to 18 races next year," Marlin said. "We talked about that. Then the deal came along with Kenny. They parted company."
Sterling Marlin again will be driving a Colorado-sponsored Cup car. Marlin drove the Coors Light Dodge for years, and he will try to qualify the No. 78 Chevrolet for Denver- based Furniture Row Racing this week at Bristol, Tenn. He recently spoke with Rocky NASCAR reporter Jim Benton.
- Biggest NASCAR achievement?
Probably winning the Daytona 500 (twice). That's what you want to win.
- If you change something about NASCAR today, what would it be?
NASCAR has some trouble with costs. It has just gotten so expensive for the teams. They've got to get it down to where more people can get in it. The COT might help, over time.
Team McDonald’s NASCAR Busch Series driver Bobby Hamilton, Jr. survived the invasion of 21 Nextel Cup drivers and an ill handling race car to finish 27th at Michigan International Speedway and remain in sixth place in the season long points battle. With the Carfax 250 now in the rear view mirror, Hamilton eagerly awaits Friday night’s trip to the half mile, Bristol Motor Speedway.
“We came here to run better than 27th, so we aren’t happy with the finish,” Hamilton said. “Fortunately we get to race in Bristol next week and that’s a place where we tested at a few weeks ago and found success. We are going to do our best to get the McDonald’s car back up front on Friday Night.”
For the first half and then some of Sunday's Food City 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Tony Stewart was performing his own rendition of the Bristol Stomp. The driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet Impala SS for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) had led four times for a race-high 257 laps, with his nearest pursuers resigned to the fact they were running for second. But misfortune struck the No. 20 machine on lap 289 when the fuel pump cable broke. With no fuel pressure, the engine shut off, forcing Stewart to come to pit road. Crew members were able to replace the cable, but the process was lengthy.
The two-time Nextel Cup champion was able to return to the 504-lap race, albeit 25 laps down. After dominating the race, Stewart was forced to simply ride around to the finish, where he posted a gut-wrenching 35th-place result.
"The guys worked real hard, because we didn't have a really good test here," said crew chief Greg Zipadelli, referring to the team's test session at the .533-mile oval in early March. "I'm proud of everybody. They kept their chins up and came back here tough and we brought back a really good race car. But, we don't have anything to show for it. We'll go to Martinsville next week and try to have a better race."
Carl Edwards and the No. 60 Scotts Bonus S Max team went into Atlanta with the overall Busch Series Points lead. They had a very fast Ford Fusion on the 1.5-mile oval, but had to conserve tires the majority of the 195 laps. Edwards and the rest of the 43-car field had to set their strategies for tire wear. Edwards increased his lead in the Busch Series Championship standings after finishing 4th for his fourth top-five in the Nicorette 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Going into the Atlanta race, Edwards was leading Denny Hamlin by 68 points. Edwards finished 4th and Hamlin skipped the event so he now leads second place Kevin Harvick by 144 points after the fifth race of the 2007 season.
“This was fun. I hope the fans enjoyed the race. My Scotts Bonus S Max guys did a great job,” commented Edwards. “We had a little bit of trouble with the tires all day. They had a lot of grip and they would come apart so we just had to be a little cautious. I think everybody did a good job being patient. I was surprised that the thing ran through a whole pit cycle under green and that nobody blew a tire and had to come in. We ended up with a great finish. I had a great race with Kyle Busch even though he got shuffled back. I had a great time.”
Next week Edwards and the No. 60 team change gears for their first short track race of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway. The No. 60 team is determined to keep extending their lead in Bristol. Edwards and the No. 60 team will be running the Scotts Moisture Control colors.
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