#40-Sterling Marlin said last month that he didn’t think he’d be back at Chip Ganassi Racing next year because the car owner had been reluctant to discuss a new contract with him. Ganassi said Marlin can change that via on-track performance. “Right now, we don’t have a plan for Sterling for next year,” Ganassi said. “But if he wins a couple of races, it’s not like we can’t change our plans.”
Assuming he needs a new job next season, garage speculation has him moving over to Richard Childress Racing to drive the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevy that Dave Blaney currently pilots. Jack Daniels is a Tennessee-based company that would love to be represented by a homestate driver. Busch series driver David Stremme, who is part of Ganassi’s development program, is most commonly mentioned to replace Marlin in the #40 Dodge.(ESPN.com RPM), NOTE: have heard that Marlin has already met with Jack Daniels’s reps and is a front runner for a Jack Daniels’s sponsored ride, it could be in the #07 RCR Chevy or Jack Daniel’s coud move to another team.(5-8-2005)
UPDATE Q) Marty Smith: Word is you’ve [Marlin] got a liquor sponsor interested. You’ve done the beer deal, now we’re hearing the liquor folks are after you.
A) Marlin: Naw. That’s a vicious rumor. We’ll just have to wait and see what plays out.(see full conversation at NASCAR.com)(5-10-2005)
