Notebook: Marlin going to the rear on Sunday

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Sterling Marlin, who won the August 2001 race at Michigan, appeared to have the qualifying problems of his Coors Light Dodge team solved in Saturday morning's first practice at Michigan International Speedway.

	Sterling Marlin's team had to make an engine change Saturday. Credit: Autostock

But after he turned the session's fifth best time, in his third lap at MIS, the team started experiencing engine trouble.

A NASCAR official said the team changed an assortment of bolt-on pieces, including the carburetor and fuel pump, between the two practices seeking a solution but ultimately had to make an engine change after Marlin was 21st in Happy Hour.

Since Marlin was only slated to start 38th, after taking a provisional starting position for the second straight race, he doesn't have far to drop.

Ford drivers answer fans' call

Several Ford drivers went beyond the call of duty to sign autographs for fans when Thursday's widespread power outage hit Ford Field in Detroit about an hour after a Ford Fan Appreciation event began.

	Dale Jarrett helped keep fans happy in Detroit on Thursday. Credit: Autostock

Reportedly, federal regulations in place since 9/11 dictate that public structures must be evacuated in the event of occurrences such as the power failure, but with hundreds of fans in the Detroit Lions' home field, some in the group of Taurus drivers resisted.

Dale Jarrett told Ford Field security he wouldn't leave until there was no one in front of him requesting an autograph. After a short time, officers gave the 1999 Winston Cup champion no choice but to be escorted to a waiting car. Jarrett signed mementoes all the way to its door.

Ricky Rudd jumped over a barrier into the field's seating area, where fans waited their turn for signatures. He explained he had to leave the building, but arranged a meeting place outside, where he remained for up to a half hour, signing autographs while propping his hero cards on a trashcan.

Tracy and Childress?

Team owner Richard Childress said Saturday morning that he has considered working with some owners in the Indy Racing League to cross-promote technology and sponsorship, but that he wasn't planning to start a team in the IndyCar series.

	Richard Childress

He said if he was, he might be interested in CART point leader Paul Tracy.

"A lot of people have asked me about that (but) I haven't talked to him in two years," Childress said. "Two or three years ago we talked about it.

"He said some day he wanted to go Winston Cup racing and whenever he did, he was going to talk to us.

"I haven't talked to him, but he's my kind of driver -- he's got a little flair to him. I'd rather have the drivers that you have to sit down and talk to or the driver that wants to win every week -- they've got to have a little fire in their guts.

"I was with one of the best for 20 years (Dale Earnhardt) so that set the standards for what we've got to have for RCR."

Hamlin hanging in there

Kevin Hamlin, Robby Gordon's crew chief, made a lot of progress Saturday at Michigan International Speedway as he battled a case of stomach flu. Hamlin had a big role in securing Gordon's third-place qualifying run Friday with team engineer Chris Andrews.

But during Saturday's first practice, Hamlin was in the track's infield care center getting intravenous fluids to aid his recovery. By the time Happy Hour began at 11:15 a.m. on a humid morning, Hamlin was in the shade in the team's garage stall and he plans to be on the job for Sunday's race.

Gordon was 17th and 23rd, respectively, in the day's two practices.

The Glen has good viewer numbers

Last Sunday's Sirius at The Glen, one of two Winston Cup road races, was the weekend's most-watched sports telecast, according to figures compiled by Nielsen Media Research.

The event, on NBC Sports, was the most-watched Winston Cup race in Watkins Glen International history, with an average of 5,926,000 households and 8,670,000 viewers tuned in, both figures representing six percent increases from 2002; and marked the third consecutive year that Watkins Glen's TV audience has grown.

Stewart's vested interest in victory

Defending Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart's first Busch Series race since the end of the 1998 season, Saturday's Cabela's 250 at MIS, resulted in a dominant performance in the 3 Doors Down Chevrolet that was blunted when rain prematurely ended the event, with Stewart in 11th.

	Tony Stewart spends some time with the rock group 3 Doors Down before Saturday's race. Credit: Autostock

Stewart on Friday announced the formation of the Tony Stewart Foundation, and the first charitable contribution to it was scheduled following the Cabela's 250. Stewart will receive 50 percent of the winnings, with team owner Chance 2 Motorsports receiving the other 50 percent.

Stewart's share of the purse will be donated to his recently formed foundation, whereupon the money will be granted to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation. Also going to the Earnhardt Foundation will be Stewart's race-worn firesuit and helmet.

"Driving for Junior's team meant that the Dale Earnhardt Foundation would naturally be the first recipient of any funds we raised from running the Busch race," Stewart said. "It's an understatement to say that Dale meant a lot to everyone in the garage area (and) I'm no exception.

"Making our first donation to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation just seemed like the right thing to do (because) they're in the business of helping people, too."

Saturday flight time

Rain was a good thing for the Labonte family Saturday.

Justin, who lost a lap early in the race due to a tight race car, is leading the Late Model Stock Car point standings at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, N.C. When the race was red-flagged due to rain, his father, Terry Labonte was wondering how he was going to fit in his son's seat when he had to leave to fly home. Terry Labonte had not officially driven in a Busch race since June 2000, at Dover.

Kasey Kahne, meanwhile, hauled from his second place finishing Great Clips Ford to 11th place Tony Stewart's airplane to fly to the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Sprint Car races at Knoxville, Iowa, where he was scheduled to run in Saturday night's B-Main. Stewart owns the Sprinter driven by former WoO champion Danny Lasoski.

Ford's streak

If a Ford wins the GFS Marketplace 400, it would extend the marque's winning streak in Winston Cup competition at MIS to four in a row. The three previous Ford winners include Kurt Busch, Dale Jarrett and Matt Kenseth. Ford holds the MIS record of five consecutive wins from June 1996-June 1998.

Sixth woman at MIS

When she started the Cabela's 250, former motorcycle and Craftsman Truck Series racer Tammy Jo Kirk became the sixth woman to race in a major professional race at MIS. The first five were Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James, Patty Moise, Shawna Robinson and Sarah Fisher.

Reutimann relocating

David Reutimann, 33, who hopes to run a full Busch Series schedule in 2004 for Joe Nemechek's NEMCO Motorsports, ran his seventh and final Busch race of 2003 Saturday at MIS and scored his third top-10 finish, in sixth

"You can't run over seven races and remain eligible for the (2004) rookie of the year award," Reutimann said. "It bums me out that this is the last race."

Reutimann, who formerly raced in the Hills Bros All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring, said he might do some races in that series for the balance of 2003, in addition to going to work as a fabricator at the NEMCO shops.

"I have to do something to be able to eat," said Reutimann, who added that he was on the verge of relocating from Zephyrhills, Fla., to North Carolina.

Looking for more

The "A" and "B" portions of Ganassi Racing driver Casey Mears' 2003 "ABC" season -- ARCA, Busch and Cup -- have been an unqualified success.

Saturday, after the Cabela's 250 was called due to rain with Mears sitting in seventh, he said he was close to a deal with Braun Racing to run the remaining Busch/Winston Cup combination races this season, which includes 10 of the 11 remaining events.