Keeping up with the fast crowd

Sporting News, The, Feb 11, 2002 by Lee Spencer

A relocation of the engine shop at midseason could have thrown a wrench into the works, but Marlin says the team recovered nicely.

"They didn't get behind but they didn't get to do the research and development, either," he says. "Once they got settled in the new shop and got back to work, they found us more power. From Charlotte (another win) on, we looked really good. We'll be fine with the one-motor rule because we don't turn our (engine RPMs) the way a lot of guys do."

Marlin shows no signs of slowing down--he's having too much fun--and he feels comfortable with his team. Lee McCall is in his second year as Marlin's crew chief, and their communication continues to improve. Team manager Tony Glover--Marlin's friend since the late 1970s--has been alongside for all eight of his driver's Winston Cup victories. Glover gives Marlin what it takes to run fast, especially at Daytona, where Marlin has won two 500s, the Pepsi 400 and three Twin 125 qualifiers.

Marlin is more determined than ever to add another Daytona 500 trophy to his case after a difficult experience there last season. Some fans blamed Marlin for Dale Earnhardt's death after the drivers' cars touched just before Earnhardt's fatal crash on the final lap.

"The whole deal was over and I knew it wasn't anything that I had done," Marlin says. "The Monday and Tuesday after the race, I took A little flak--a lot of flak, actually. The shop got a But once everybody saw what happened, they came to their senses.

"I was determined to begin with, but that made me even more determined. I just turned it into a positive." --L.S.

Hot on the track, not under the collar

If not for Tony Stewart, who would brighten our day after every race? Who would right all the NASCAR wrongs in a single bound?

No one, you can be sure. In the increasingly vanilla world of NASCAR, that's not a bad role to play. But that's not why we're picking Stewart to make a run at this season's Winston Cup points championship.

Sure, Jeff Gordon is the easy choice to defend his title. He has the car, the talent, the crew and the organization--and for those reasons, and probably a few more, he's No. 1 in our driver rankings (page 56). But it Stewart gets his act together and spends less time discussing his manners with Boss Helton and the boys in the big red truck, he will turn off-track rage into an on-track reign.

Not convinced? Take a look at what he did last season. Stewart won half as many races (three) as he did in 2000 but ended up second in the standings, finishing 349 points behind Gordon. If nothing else, that shows stewart learned that the name of the game is consistency.

Still not convinced? Then consider his 22 top-10 finishes in a Pontiac that wind-tunnel tests showed was at a disadvantage to the other makes.

The not-so-secret wealth for Stewart is crew chief Greg Zipadelli. As "Zippy" goes, so goes Stewart and the No. 20 car. If Zipadelli is able to keep Stewart in line--and Stewart must make more of an effort to do his part--there will be a different points champion for the fourth consecutive year.