Marlin to know Monday UPDATE: Sterling Marlin heads back to the doctor Monday for an examination of his neck. His C-2 vertebra was cracked after two hard crashes, and he was told to take the rest of the season off. However, he’s opened the door to an earlier return. “But if it’s not 100 percent, I’m not going to mess with it,” Marlin said.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-26-2002) UPDATE: Dr. Jerry Petty, neurosurgeon, and Dr. Dom Coric, spinal injury specialist, of the Carolina Neurological and Spinal Injury Clinic, performed a medical update on Sterling Marlin the morning of Monday, October 28. Marlin, who suffered a non-displaced fracture of the #2 cervical vertebra as a result of his accident at Kansas Speedway on September 29, is progressing well with the healing. Marlin’s MRI clearly showed the first steps of healing of the C2 vertebra. He must continue to wear the Aspen collar, which keeps the cervical vertebrae stable, for two more weeks and will then be reevaluated. Marlin is on schedule to be back in the #40 Coors Light Dodge for 2003 Winston Cup testing. “The MRI showed the best case scenario,” said Dr. Dom Coric, M.D. “Sterling is on target to make the recovery we want him to make.” Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates certified athletic trainer, Al Shuford M.Ed,A.T.,C.-L, will begin the first steps of physical training in re-strengthening Marlin’s neck. Jamie McMurray will continue to replace Marlin in the #40 Coors Light Dodge for the remainder of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season. McMurray will pilot the Havoline Dodge for the Ganassi team in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(10-28-2002)
