Marlin shoots for Winston Bonus

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- If he hadn't won the last NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, Sterling Marlin's recent performance wouldn't have rated much notice for this weekend's Sirius Satellite Radio 400 at MIS.

	Sterling Marlin

But Marlin's overall performance in the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge has him leading the Winston Cup standings for the 13th straight week.

And if the Columbia, Tenn., native can score his second straight victory at Michigan he'll reap the $100,000 NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus from series sponsor R.J. Reynolds, in the addition to the winner's share from the $3,798,525 in posted awards.

Entering Michigan's event, Marlin leads second place Jimmie Johnson by 136 points.

In order for Johnson to grab the bonus, he would have to win the race and have Marlin drop at least 137 points -- which is highly unlikely.

Marlin has already collected $50,000 in NASCAR Winston Cup leader bonus money this season. He won a $30,000 bonus after winning at Las Vegas and another $20,000 bonus after taking the checkered flag at Darlington two weeks later.

Two drivers collected the Winston Cup leader bonus a total of eight times last season. Dale Jarrett won four times for a total of $130,000. 2001 Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon also won the bonus four times, taking home $150,000.

Gordon has won $974,030 in the NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus program, more than any other driver.

The 2001 season ended with $80,000 of leader-bonus money on the table. When Gordon did not win the season's last race, the money was divided among the top 10 drivers in the final Winston Cup point standings.