Sterling Marlin never used to get caught up in accidents -- but 2004 saw him end up on the wrecker's hook five times. Credit: Autostock

Marlin knows 2005 is make-or-break year

CONCORD, N.C. -- Sterling Marlin wants to retire with Chip Ganassi Racing. Whether Marlin gets the chance is entirely up to his performance this year.

Marlin, 47, say he wants to remain in the sport for at least two more years, but 2005 is a contract year for him -- and his sponsor.

Chip Ganassi has said the No. 40 Dodge must improve this year.

Chip Ganassi has not said whether he will bring Marlin back for the 2006 season. Instead, Ganassi spent the winter overhauling the No. 40 program, which has endured two consecutive lackluster years.

After two outstanding seasons in 2001 and '02 -- the latter cut off early due to injury --Marlin has finished 18th and 22nd in the standings. Not bad, but not acceptable for a man who has twice finished third in the points.

Marlin is a man of few words, but he knows his job is at stake, especially when teammate Jamie McMurray is listed as a title contender.

"This is my last year with Coors, hopefully we will re-up," Marlin said. "I talked to Chip about a month ago, see what we are going to do and what Coors are going to do. I would like to run a couple more years. I am going to do all I can do."

Marlin hopes he can remain with Ganassi. Before Ganassi purchased a majority interest in the team before the 2001 season, the team was owned by Felix Sabates. Sabates has employed Marlin since 1998.

"I would like to stay here. I drove for Felix a long time," Marlin said. "If I am going to retire, I'd like to retire here."

The push for improvement

	Sterling Marlin has driven for just two teams since 1994.
	STERLING MARLIN •   Driver Page •   2004 Stats •   Driver vs. Driver •   Merchandise

Ganassi has turned to a former tire engineer in hopes of turning the team around.

Steve Boyer is a tall, soft-spoken Nebraskan who has worked for Ganassi for four years, but he's never been a crew chief. Until now.

Boyer, 33, says one of the team's weaknesses last year was poor pit stops, and he outfitted his team with a brand-new crew.

"We have changed everybody except for the gasman," Boyer said. "It is going to be brand new."

"We did get beat on pit road a lot last year. And that hurts [Marlin's] confidence. It's a distraction. He does not need any distractions. He needs full concentration on what the car is doing."

Marlin's neck injury, suffered at Kansas in 2002, seemed to spark a decline in performance, but Boyer says the team also saw a downturn in luck.

"In the other years, when we needed a break, we got one," Boyer said. "In 2001 we could go in on Saturday night, change 10 things and everything would be right.

"We'd have a great race car. The last couple of years, it seems like we have lost that feel a little bit and we are going to try to get that back the best we can."

Marlin wants to race until he's 50

Marlin turns 48 this summer, but he's in remarkably good shape for his age, and he does not want to follow Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace's lead.

"[Harry Gant] was winning races at 51," Marlin said. "I saw him [last] summer, and he could still be winning races. Looking at him, he looked like he did 10 years ago."

Even though it promises to be a high-pressure season for the veteran, Marlin chuckles at what he has to do to remain at Ganassi.

"Mash the gas, tell them to make it drive good," Marlin said.