Marlin to be inducted into Tennessee Sports HoF

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame on Monday announced NASCAR driver Sterling Marlin as one of 11 inductees to be enshrined at its annual banquet on Feb. 29 at the Renaissance hotel in Nashville.

Marlin

Marlin joins Franklin, Tenn., resident and three-time NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip as the only stock-car drivers in the state's hall of fame.

A two-time Daytona 500 winner, Marlin isn't this year's only honoree with NASCAR ties. Fred Smith, Chairman, president and CEO of the FedEx Corporation, is this year's Lifetime Achievement Inductee. Smith's company sponsors the No. 11 Cup Series car driven by Denny Hamlin for Joe Gibbs Racing.

"This year's program will feature an outstanding class of athletes," said Howard Gentry, Jr., president of the organization. "We'll be honoring an Olympic gold medallist, a NASCAR legend and an NFL Hall of Famer.

"As always, it will be an exciting night and we encourage the public to attend" Gentry said.

Along with the inductees, several individual and team honorees will be recognized at the annual banquet. Those recipients -- to include the Male and Female Amateur Athletes of the Year, the Professional Athletes of the Year and the Professional and Amateur Teams of the Year -- are still to be announced.

Tickets for the awards banquet and induction ceremony are available from the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame for $125. For more information on the event call the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame office at (615) 242-4750.