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.
Look, Bill can tell a story better than I can, so why would I want to add to it or detract from it. Check out these excerpts and then the full article if you have time. It's a good piece. Cheers!
Sterling said most of the legal issues -- meaning contract and money -- have been worked out, so he can look for a ride. He said he doesn't have one.
"I can drive if I want to," Marlin said. "Next year I was going to cut back anyway, wasn't gonna plan on running the full deal, unless a really good car come along to run. I was gonna cut back to 15 or 20 races, and if that didn't come off it didn't. So maybe I would run a few Busch races just to keep your hand in it, have a good time. You enjoy racing so if I don't do that we'll drive a Late Model at Nashville."
So at least we can watch him race there! I'm hoping we'll see him somewhere else before that, but, maybe not.
The fan reaction to the Sterling Shuffle has been predictable. I'm not talking about the Internet, I'm talking about fans that come up to you and ask, "What happened to Sterling?" "Why did they do that to Sterling?" The rear windows of the Chevy Tahoe I saw driving around Indianapolis when I arrived on Wednesday: "Save Sterling from Ginn Racing ... the last resort", a shot at another business interest of car owner Bobby Ginn.
Marlin, make that Sterling -- it's hard to call Sterling by his last name -- knows all about the fan response.
"Yeah, I heard the Web site stuff was crammed full and I guess the Ginn Web site got blasted, I don't know, but I want to thank all the fans for all the years and it's been great. The fans are what make it all go 'round so I want to thank them all for supporting me all the years."
It took approximately 10 days but Bobby Ginn finally took the time to talk to Sterling Marlin about the status of his contract. Ginn caught Marlin Thursday while Marlin was on the way to do an interview with Nashville Tennessee's Channel 5 TV. That interview is the original source of this report.
Marlin intends to get paid for the rest of the year via his contract with Ginn. Towards that end he is taking no chances. He has been contacted by two persons regarding other rides but feels forced by his contract with Ginn to turn them down at this time.
Most telling is a conversation Marlin had with former Ginn CEO Jay Frye. Jay told Sterling he could go ahead and drive for somebody else if he got an offer. Marlin asked Frye for that in writing.
Sterling Marlin says he has had calls from other teams but can't drive for any team until he gets issues resolved with former employer Ginn Racing.
"A couple of guys called, but I can't do nothing. Part of your contract, if you drive somebody else's car, you null and void your contract. So I'll sit and wait here and see what the lawyers say."
Marlin said the team still owes him money, and while he won't like to sit around and wait, he will.
"I haven't talked to Bobby [Ginn]. [They] haven't returned calls to my lawyers," Marlin said. "They're kind of just leaving me hanging. ... I'd like to get something worked out and at least finish the year out with somebody if I could."
"There was a lot of stress and a lot of hard work," Marlin said. "I'm really proud of all of the guys that worked on the team. We ran the gauntlet there for seven races - we had to make it [on speed] the last two races [last year].
"We made them, and a lot of guys can't say that. A lot of teams with good drivers and the money and didn't do it. We were the only ones to do it, and it's all for naught now. It's like being kicked in the groin."
Sterling is a little bit perturbed I'd say. He is smart enough to leave getting paid up to his attorneys though. And he is smart enough to not risk compromising the contract he has by driving another car too soon. He ain't no dummy. He didn't just fall off of the turnip truck yesterday.
DEI has purchased Ginn Racing with an official announcement expected on Wednesday to unveil the four car lineup which will include Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Martin Truex, Jr., Paul Menard and Mark Martin. The merger was reported by ESPN and is expected to be formalized with an official announcement on Wednesday.
Earnhardt Jr will have a new teammate this weekend.
So now Regan Smith and Aric Almirola are being hung out to dry, at least temporarily. Regan was to drive the 14. But apparently the 14 points are going to Menard to lock him in the show. It now appears that Regan is out of a ride before he ever got to drive it. Tough luck, a smartass Sterling Marlin fan might say. Easy come easy go young gun.
But seriously. I suspect Regan will get the 14 next year at DEI and that Almirola will be sharing the 01 with Martin next year. Of course all of those plans are at least up in the air at this time.
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