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By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
August 25, 2002
2:05 AM EDT (0605 GMT)
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- The drivers' meeting prior to the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night had some notable guests.
Eight of the nine workers who were trapped in a coal mine in Pennsylvania last month were greeted by a standing ovation from the drivers. On Friday, they gave the command to start engines for the Busch Series race.
Wayne Huizenga, owner of the Miami Dolphins, was also present as drivers received their pre-race instructions.
The session went longer than usual as drivers were asking multiple questions about pit road rules regarding where they were to exit/enter the track under caution and green. As questions started to mount, competition director David Hoots, who runs the meeting, called Dale Beaver to the microphone to give the pre-race prayer.
That ended the discussion.
How cute
The children of NASCAR drivers and teams that belong to the Motorsports Outreach (MRO) program sang the National Anthem before Saturday's race. While the children sang, Bobby Labonte, Kenny Schrader and other proud parents were seen looking on.
Marlin gets jack-ed
Points leader Sterling Marlin was given a stop-and-go penalty on lap 56 when during a pit stop, he took off with the jack still under his car.
The jack came loose and rolled a significant distance down pit road and stopped at the side of Ricky Craven's No. 32 car before he returned to the track. Marlin was assessed the penalty for pit equipment leaving the pit stall.
He and the No. 40 Dodge team came back to finish seventh. With Mark Martin finishing 23rd, Marlin's point lead widened to 95 markers over second-place Martin.
It must be Bristol
Prior to Saturday's race, nine couples were married on Bristol's .533-mile track. Jerry Nadeau served as the best man for each of them.
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