Sterling Marlin sits 18th in the Nextel Cup point standings. Credit: Autostock

Conversation: Marlin

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Sterling Marlin is one of the most unique personalities in NASCAR.

The two-time Daytona 500 champion and king of the one-liners is having a resurgent year in the Coors Light Dodge, but has said he doesn't anticipate a return to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2006. So what will he be doing?

	Inside the Numbers Sterling Marlin's Cup stats heading into this weekend's action at Richmond Category Stat Starts 650 Wins 10 Top-5s 83 Top-10s 213 Poles 11 Laps Led 4,242 Avg. Start 18.5 Avg. Finish 17.7 Miles Raced 232,255.2

Last Friday at Darlington, Marlin took a moment following Bud Pole Qualifying to address his status in the rumor mill and discuess his beloved Tennessee Volunteers with NASCAR.COM's Marty Smith.

Q: Let's get right to the important stuff, Sterling. Your Tennessee Vols are ranked third in an SI.com preseason poll I was reading. That's three positions higher than my (Virginia Tech) Hokies. That's crap, man.

Yeah (laughing). I got to talking to them up there; I think they look pretty good. Defense looks good. Got a couple quarterbacks coming back. New quarterback's coming in and got a great running back from last year.

So they impressed me last year with what they had, starting the season with a true freshman quarterback. So hopefully they stay right up there and go to one of the big bowls and win it all again.

Q: What's more impressive, Neyland Stadium or Bristol Motor Speedway?

Well, for football fans Neyland Stadium and Bristol for the race fans. There's a lot of both in both. It's a little weird that you've got to big arenas like that, that close together in the eastern part of Tennessee that hold that many people.

Q: There's a lot being said about you in the rumor mill, brother. Update me on what's going on with Sterling Marlin. We've heard the quote where you said you're 99.9 percent sure that you weren't coming back to Ganassi.

As far as I know, unless they tell me different, I'm not coming back. Right now, just entertaining, look at two or three different deals to see what shakes out and which guys has the most competitive car and the chance to win races. I'd like to run another couple-three years and quit when you want to.

Q: So a couple more years for Sterling Marlin?

I'd say that'll probably just about do it (laughing).

Seems like these days marketing helps get a guy a ride as quickly as being a great driver does. Is that the way the sport's evolving?

It kinda is. I think a lot of ...

There's an awful lot of good looking youngsters getting seats these days.

Well, you said it, I didn't (laughing).

If you can still drive a racecar and get the job done, that may not count now. But I think when it comes down and out, he's going to look at somebody who can win races and get the job done, that's who they'll go with.

Word is you've got a liquor sponsor interested. You've done the beer deal, now we're hearing the liquor folks are after you.

Naw. That's a vicious rumor. We'll just have to wait and see what plays out.