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Driver reports: what have these veterans learned that will help them qualify for the 2005 Chase?

Sporting News, The, Sept 6, 2004 by Lee Spencer

STERLING MARLIN

Marlin hasn't had his "A" game since he was sidelined by injuries in 2002. It has been 83 races since his last victory and 108 races since his last pole. Marlin's best showings in 2004 are two fourth places--his only top fives of the season. Crew chief Lee McCall says the team has been plagued by bad luck--and it has--since a race-ending accident in the Daytona 500. "In 2001 and 2002, we didn't have any bad luck," McCall says. "But anything that could go wrong this year has." In 24 starts, Marlin has failed to finish seven races, three for mechanical reasons. The team tested early in the season and saved two tests, at Martinsville and Darlington, for the final 10 races. Marlin's qualifying has improved, but the team has struggled at big, flat tracks such as Pocono and Indy, where Marlin ran exceptionally well in the past.

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MARK MARTIN

Overcoming mechanical misfortunes has been a challenge for Martin in 2004. "We have to stop things from breaking," Martin says. "I think we underestimated early on the difficulty of getting from where we were into the top 10." Considering he finished 17th in the standings last year, his battle back this season after a last-place finish in the Daytona 500 illustrates Martin's dedication and the team's never-ending support. Martin and crew chief Pat Tryson consider their team to be top five-caliber, and knowledgeable garage sources say that without the mechanical problems, Martin would be leading the points race. Martin, who has finished in the top five in points 10 times in 17 full seasons of Cup racing, is not out of the Chase yet. Many say that because of the momentum his team has built, this could be Martin's year--if he can squeeze into the Chase.

JEREMY MAYFIELD

It has taken time for this team to jell. Mayfield and crew chief Kenny Francis have developed a stronger bond with their teammates on the No. 9 team, Kasey Kahne and crew chief Tommy Baldwin. The information the teams have shared has enabled Mayfield to make significant gains, but at times he still has difficulty conveying what adjustments need to be made to improve his car or his position during a race. Mayfield admits that at Sonoma, a lack of patience--he spun out late in the race--cost him track position. He also says the team needs better pit strategy. "Like (the spring race) at Bristol, when we took on two tires and should have taken four," Mayfield says. "We've looked at a lot of things from this year that will make us stronger next year. The good thing is, it's a lot of little stuff that we can fix. It's not like we don't know what's wrong."

MICHAEL WALTRIP

Crew chief Slugger Labbe says his strategy won't change next season, despite the team's failure to qualify for the Chase. "You go out to win every week," Labbe says. "It's very important to go out and win the Daytona 500. It sets the pace for the entire year. It helps the morale; it helps the driver, and it helps the team." Finishing 38th after a wreck at Daytona wasn't what the crew expected, and despite a valiant comeback in points, the team wasn't able to overcome three other wrecks and an engine failure at Pocono. But Waltrip knows his team never gave up--especially the pit crew, which remained consistent and improved Waltrip's track position on a regular basis. NASCAR is changing the gear rule and shortening the spoiler, and Labbe already is working on cars for 2005. He says the changes will force the team to test earlier and more often next year.

Driver reports: what have these veterans learned that will help them qualify for the 2005 Chase?

Sporting News, The, Sept 6, 2004 by Lee Spencer

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