“Nope, nothin’ yet,” #40-Sterling Marlin said as a reporter approached him in the infield at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where rain washed out a scheduled practice session yesterday. The veteran racer from Columbia is searching for a new Nextel Cup ride, having been informed that he won’t be retained at Chip Ganassi Racing after this season 16 more races. “I’m still talking to some people,” Marlin said. “In fact I’ve had a couple of conversations this week. But there’s a lot of things involved sponsors and stuff like that so I don’t know anything definite yet.” Marlin said he won’t settle “for just any ride. I want to go with a team that can give me a good car, good motor, and a good pit crew. I want to be with a competitive team that can win races.” And if such an opportunity fails to present itself? “It won’t be the end of the world,” Marlin said. “If I can get with a good team, that’ll be great. If not well, life goes on.”
There had been speculation that Marlin might join Richard Childress Racing [#07], having been offered a ride there toward the end of last season, but Childress recently indicated he will stick with his present drivers. Another scenario had Marlin replacing retiring #6-Mark Martin at Roush Racing, but Roush is trying to talk Martin into racing one more year before turning the car over to Jamie McMurray in 2007. Another report has linked Marlin with Richard Petty’s famous #43 as a replacement for Jeff Green. Marlin declined to comment on any of the reports, probably out of courtesy to the drivers who currently have the rides. “I figure we’ll know something before long,” said Marlin, “I’ll keep looking and see what turns up.”(Tennessean)(8-6-2005)
