Marlin wins at Las Vegas: #40-Sterling Marlin wins the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 after starting 24th, all three winners in 2002 so far have started 19th or worse. It is Marlin’s 9th career Winston Cup win. Marlin now leads the drivers points by 75 points over #12-Newman (507 to 432). The top ten: 1) #40-Marlin (37 laps led) 2) #19-Mayfield (17 laps led) 3) #6-Martin 4) #12-Newman (50 laps led) 5) #20-Stewart (76 laps led) 6) #48-Johnson (6 laps led) 7) #88-Jarrett 8) #9-Elliott 9) #99-Burton 10) #41-Spencer (45 laps led) 6 cautions for 25 laps 20 of 43 cars are on the lead lap. Lap Leaders (13): #66-Bodine; #41-Spencer; #97-Busch; #12-Newman; #40-Marlin; #20-Stewart; #23-Stricklin; #21-Sadler; #48-Johnson; #8-Earnhardt Jr; #45-Petty; #22-Burton; #19-Mayfield (ties a recoord for leaders). DNF’s: #55-Hamilton(accident); #49-Robinson(accident); NOTES: #55-Hamilton, one of the No Bull Five drivers, wrecked on lap 9 and looks to be out of the race, Hamilton’s 40 race streak with no DNF’s (did not finishes) is over as his car has been declared out. Caution on lap 61 when #15-Waltrip blew a tire, quite a few cars were caught in the pits when the yelloe came out and got put a lap down or close to it (#’s 66,25,31,10 and others), #19-Mayfield was in the pits for a few laps as there was some sort of problem during his stop and #41-Spencer lost a bunch of spots when a lugnut fell off the stud during his stop.. #40-Marlin was slowing to go to the pits and got hit by #25-Nadeau, Marlin saved it after going sideways and ended up at the entrance of pit road and proceeded to hit pit stall. Fox reported Marlin would be penalized for speeding down pit road, haven’t seen or heard it happened, but communication never got to the NASCAR official so NASCAR recinded the penalty. Caution 3 on lap 140 for oil on the track, all lead lap cars came in to pit, #12-Newman came out with the lead as only two tires were changed. #8-Earnhardt Jr only took two tires and came out 2nd. #25-Nadeau’s Chevy is overheating but still on the track. Caution 4 on lap 155 when #17-Kenseth spun by himself, no damage to car. Leader #20-Stewart let #66-Bodine and #25-Nadeau back on the lead lap. #44-Jones was running in the top 10 before the caution (4) had a loose lugnut and was called back in by NASCAR to tighten it, went out 25th, still on the lead lap. #32-Craven had a tire go down just AFTER the 4th caution and lost a lap. #36-Schrader had a tired go down when he and #66-Bodine got together and Schrader had to pit on lap 182, losing a lap. #48-Jimmie Johnson while leading and a lug nut fell off the front right tire and the pit stop lasted longer then normal, came out in 10th place. #10-Benson ran out of fuel but made it in to the pits and got refueled but lost time (he ran 62 laps on a tank). #26-Nemechek possibly has engine trouble. Caution 5 on lap 232, #49-Shawna Robinson tagged the wall, pancaking the right side, Robinson is in 42nd. Most of the lead lap drivers came in to pit. #97-Busch has an engine problem and is overheating. Caution 6 on lap 254. #45-Petty got spun by #31-Gordon after #25-Nadeau pushed/hit Gordon. See ThatsRacin.com for a column: Marlin’s number comes up big in Vegas and for Unofficial UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 results and Unofficial Standings. The race will re-air on Speed Channel, Wednesday, March 6th at 8:00pm/et and on Thursday, March 7th at 12:00noon/et.(3-3-2002)
