Recent Performances Boost Marlin's Confidence

HAMPTON, Ga. (Oct. 25, 2006)—Despite the finishes Sterling Marlin has collected recently, the veteran driver is feeling positive with the progress his MB2 Motorsports team has made over the past several weeks. And with the Nextel Cup Series heading to Atlanta Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Bass Pro Shops 500, he’s confident the team will continue on the upswing.

The veteran driver will be piloting the same No. 14 Ginn Clubs & Resorts Chevrolet that he drove to an 11th-place finish two weeks ago at the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Charlotte.

“I’m looking forward to Atlanta - another 1.5-mile track,” said Marlin. “We had a great run at Charlotte a couple of weeks ago and I’m hoping to top that finish on Sunday. Slugger (crew chief Richard “Slugger” Labbe) and the team have been working hard to get this car better and better and the performances are showing it.”

While Marlin is excited about the way the team has been running, he knows the final result is what matters.

“Running better each week is a step in the right direction,” offered Marlin. “But we know what counts is the final result. We’re making steady progress -- we just need to work on being there at the end. As long as we continue to be competitive, the good results will follow.”

In the Atlanta spring race, a flat tire relegated Marlin to a 34th-place finish.

“We had a better car than our finish at Atlanta in the spring,” said Marlin. “You can't control things like flat tires, spinning race cars or blown engines. That's why it's even more important to be in control of the things that you're capable of controlling."

In 43 career starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Marlin's best result was runner-up, which he accomplished twice -- at the fall races in 1995 and 2001.

Sunday's event will be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.