Big News – Marlin out for the rest of 2002: #40-Sterling Marlin has been diagnosed with a fractured vertebra and will miss the remainder of the 2002 racing season. Team co-owner Felix Sabates confirmed Marlin’s status Wednesday and said BGN driver Jamie McMurray would be in the car for the rest of the Cup season. McMurray, expected to join join Marlin and Jimmy Spencer on the Chip Ganassi Racing team, will also run the rest of the BGN season [in the #27 Brewco Chevy]. “It is unfortunate that Sterling has to end his season early due to his injury,” Ganassi said. “Sterling has dominated the championship points race, and we were looking forward to helping him win his first NASCAR Winston Cup title. We are expecting Sterling to make a full recovery and be ready to go for the title chase again in 2003.” “Sterling, obviously, is very upset becasue he felt like he had a legitimate chance at winning his first championship,” Sabates said. “Yes, the team had fallen off a little bit over the past couple of weeks, but with the tightness of the points race, he had as good a shot as anyone.” NASCAR President Mike Helton said, “Right now, Sterling’s well-being is everyone’s primary concern. His health is certainly more important than anything else. Even though he’s sidelined for the remainder of this season, we wish him the best for a full recovery that will put him back in the championship hunt next year.” A second-generation driver from Columbia, Tenn., Marlin has suffered accidents in two recent Winston Cup races, at Richmond and Kansas City. He had fallen to fifth in the season standings. Doctors in Charlotte, N.C., diagnosed Marlin with a fracture in his C-2 vertebrae – in the neck – Wednesday morning.(ThatsRacin.com/NASCAR.com) NOTE: The #42 Dodge that McMurray was to drive at Talladega has been withdrawn or removed from the entry list. Also McMurray will NOT run the Cup race at Martinsville as he has a BGN commitment that weekendm a driver will be named at a later date.(10-2-2002)
