STERLING MARLIN

AS TOLD TO ZOOMSTER.COM
© 2002 Dwight Drum

Many drivers say they don't worry about the championship points, they just go out to win the next race, but inside many worry. If Sterling Marlin worries about the points inside, he doesn't show that worry when he goes out to win the next race or even when he talks about racing or the tight points lead. Marlin is at ease with pressure. Here's some of what he had to say about points and NASCAR Winston Cup racing in a recent teleconference.

"We're a proud team and we're ahead of schedule this year. Being in the lead and getting Winston Cup Leader Bonus money is good. It's been a good year so far."

"It feels good. You always get to park in the front of the garage when you come in."

No. So much can happen. It's so completive. You look back over the years like in the 1980s. You could run fifth and be four laps down. Now, fifth place means your three seconds behind. The competition has increased and every year it gets tougher. It's so tough."

"Week-in and week-out you go to the racetrack wanting to win that race. I felt going into this year we could win four or five races the seasons and be right there in the points championship. Right now we have the lead, so maybe we can win more races before the year is out."

"We look at the points before we start the season at the beginning of the Daytona 500. If you told me last year that this year I would win four races and Jeff Gordon would win none [at this point], I'd have said you were nuts. It goes in cycles. I don't look at the margin of points. I get in and get out. If I stay around long enough, we'll get the points.

"We need to run in the top five. You can't run fifteen for twentieth every week and expect to win a championship. Last year Dodges qualified good but couldn't race good. This year Dodges qualify good and race good. We're trying to do better with what we've got.

"It looks like we have to compete against the same guys. Jeff and Jimmie are running. Jeff Gordon is an excellent driver with a great racing team with good personnel. That's what it takes. Yates has his cars running again. Tony Stewart has a good race then a bad race and can't seem to put a streak together. Mark Martin is right on our heels and can shake out of the pack. A lot of guys keep nipping at our heels. We have to stay focused."

"NASCAR Racing has come a long way. Back when Wallace, Martin, Earnhardt Sr. and I started, we raced week to week. We hoped to make enough money to race the next week. We drove to most all the races back then. It makes me more appreciative of winning a championship."

"We're not going to cross that bridge before we get there."

"I've been doing this a long time. You take the good with the bad, work hard and do all you can do. Good things happen to those who wait. I'm just glad to be here. What will be, will be. I have a great owner and great sponsor. Everybody needs to work hard. I'm going to work hard and see what happens."