Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Coors Light Dodge
Advance Auto Parts 500 – Martinsville Speedway Advance
No. 40 TEAM FACTS:
Chassis: The Coors Light team will race chassis #309 at Martinsville Speedway. This is the first time that the car will be raced in 2005. This chassis is used mainly at Martinsville, Loudon, Phoenix and Richmond. In nine starts this chassis has one top-five finish and its average finish is 14th.
Qualifying and Racing at Martinsville: Marlin’s highest starting spot is second which he did in the spring of 1994. His highest finish at Martinsville Speedway is also second which he did twice in the spring races in 1988 and 1992.
Last spring at Martinsville: Marlin battled back from pit stop miscues to finish ninth in the Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway in 2004.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup points standings: Marlin’s 11th-place finish elevated him three spots to 13th in the points standings, 41 points out of the top-10 and 267 points out of the top spot.
TONY GLOVER, TEAM MANAGER QUOTES:
“The key to racing at short tracks is finishing the race. If you can keep your nose clean than you can get a good finish. There is not one element that is more important, in fact it is everything from the driver, the car and the pit crew that controls the outcome of the race. All elements have to be perfect in order to finish in the top-10 at a place like Martinsville. The Coors Light team is working really well together, starting to gain momentum and that is a really positive thing right now for the No. 40 car. Sterling is always good on the short tracks and we are looking for another great finish this week.”
Last Pole: September 1, 2002, at Darlington Raceway
Last Win: March 3, 2002, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Last Top-Five: October 24, 2004 at Martinsville Speedway
Last Top-10: February 20, 2005 at Daytona International Speedway
