Sterling Marlin's out

[Gravey]

I saw on the news tonight where Sterling Marlin is now looking for a new ride as Ginn Racing sent him packing. That sucks because I was really hoping this would work out for him. Maybe he'll land with a competitive team and make a come-back but I'm not keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[NCST8GUY]

I think Ginn is pretty competitive. I know you like Marlin though. But he wasn't doing much in that car. Ole Mark Martin has actually run in their stuff ok.

Ginn stole Airick aledragwhatever from Gibbs, Joe nemecheck is probably out also if he doesn't land a sponsor for Indy. They want youth in the cars it seems.

What will be more interesting is what will happen with the merger with DEI. strange stuff I tell ya.

Marlin probably hasn't raced his last race yet. He may well have won his last one though

 

[farmin68]

Bobby Ginn lied to Sterling Marlin and his fans.

At the beginning of the season, he said Sterling had a ride as long as he wanted.

In less than 5 years, Marlin has went from late-season points leader to looking for a ride. Another victim of the move to younger drivers.

Marlin hasn't run his last race, but I do believe he has won his last one.

 

[Radar]

Bobby Ginn lied to Sterling Marlin and his fans.

At the beginning of the season, he said Sterling had a ride as long as he wanted.

In less than 5 years, Marlin has went from late-season points leader to looking for a ride. Another victim of the move to younger drivers.

Marlin hasn't run his last race, but I do believe he has won his last one.

I agree . I hate to the local hometown boy searching for a competitive ride . I think many of the smaller teams like Ginn racing have only one competitive car team , and they put most of their resources into that team , while the other cars remain uncompetitive . In this case it is Mark's team .

Ever notice how some cars are never competitive , even on the good teams ?

 

[farmin68]

Update on Sterling....

Looks like he may be going back to Morgan McClure Motorsports. Word is they will be adding a second team and bringing him in to drive.

I hops so.

 

[wildflower]

Update on Sterling....

Looks like he may be going back to Morgan McClure Motorsports. Word is they will be adding a second team and bringing him in to drive.

I hops so.

I sure hope so too, he not finish yet.. he still has more races to race and maybe win!!!

 

[Radar]

I wish he never would have stepped out of the #40 car when he was leading the points with a neck problem . I'll always wonder if he could have won the championship that year .I know it was doctor's orders to step out of the car .....but it was his last good run .

 

[Gravey]

I wish he never would have stepped out of the #40 car when he was leading the points with a neck problem . I'll always wonder if he could have won the championship that year .I know it was doctor's orders to step out of the car .....but it was his last good run .

I agree. I was pulling for him big time and I hated to see it too.

 

[farmin68]

I wish he never would have stepped out of the #40 car when he was leading the points with a neck problem . I'll always wonder if he could have won the championship that year .I know it was doctor's orders to step out of the car .....but it was his last good run .

I agree. I was pulling for him big time and I hated to see it too.

In the fall of 01, I met Sterling and was fortunate enough to talk with him for a good 30 minutes. When the 2002 season was mentioned, he was very optimistic.

He was only 44 then and I could see that he was weary of life on the road. That day (a Tuesday), he did appearances in three different states. Lebanon was his last stop and he was there until 8 p.m. From there, an hour drive home to Columbia for a day and fly back out on Thurs. morning. Norm Partin told me that while in the #40 car, 8-10 appearances per week were normal for Sterling. That was part of his contract and from what I gathered from Norm, Sterling was already looking forward to slowing down.


I believe the crash that took him out of contention was in Kansas. The crash and injury was VERY similar to the one that killed Dale Sr. The Hans Device and the redesigned "crunch zone" on the front of the car probably saved Sterling's life that day.

 

[Radar]

I have talked to Sterling a few times when I saw him in town . He is a good ol' country boy . I see him out on his property on the dozer quite often .
I really think his best days are behind him . It's hard to compete with the young guns who drive for the best teams , attract the biggest sponsors , and have the best cars .

 

[farmin68]

Radar, I agree about the young guns attracting the sponsorship money.

Level the field with equal cars and the veterans like Marlin, Rudd, Martin, Schrader and B. Labonte would dominate.

 

[backstraps]

Ah dont count him out....he may have lost the edge, but you know racing is in his blood! I would like to see him get on a top team....but like you said Radar the young guys are the stuff right now! I hope the best for ole Sterling!

 

[BigAl]

He's ready to go part-time anyway, but I hate that it turned out the way it did. I was a big fan of Sterlin when he was in the Coors light car. I have no doubt he would have won the championship the year he was injured.

Nemechek is out also.

 

[Radar]

Rememeber when Sterling got out of the car during a red flag stop several years ago and tried to pull a fender out ?
I saw him in town just prior to Daytona and had to bite my tongue when I told him good luck . I wanted to say "Stay in your car this time "
I also remember when greg Biffle wrecked him ,and he called Greg "bug eyed dummy" during the post wreck interview .
I also rember Sterling wrecking Ryan Newman ,and Ryn said Stering probably couldn't see after his tupee slipped down over his eyes".

 

[farmin68]

I think Ginn is pretty competitive. I know you like Marlin though. But he wasn't doing much in that car. Ole Mark Martin has actually run in their stuff ok.

NCST8, I just saw this post. I too was wondering why Sterling wasn't running as good as Martin and I think I've found the answer..... Many people feel that Ginn only has enough [font:Arial Black]good [/font] equipment to put one competitive car on the track. Since Martin is such a huge investment ($10mil+ salary) for Ginn and they have a high dollar sponsor, the good equipment is going into the 01 car.

I think Marlin, Rudd, Schrader, Elliot, Labonte, and many other veterans can still drive the wheels off of a race car. Problem is they don't have the young face the big buck sponsors want.

Hopefully the COT will help the low-budget teams next year.