S
smack500
Guest
By Troy Fletcher, Special to Turner Sports Inactive July 16, 2002
2:14 PM EDT (1814 GMT)
Growing up, there was never much doubt what career path Sterling Marlin was going to follow.
"I was always in the shop working with the guys on my dad's (Coo Coo's) cars," Sterling said. "I started doing that when I was 12 or 13 years old. By the time I was 15, I was changing tires for him and then when I turned 16 I was serving as my dad's crew chief and I also started driving."
Coo Coo made 165 Winston Cup starts, in a racing career that spanned from 1947 to 1980.
Sterling Marlin has been driving Winston Cup cars since 1976. Credit: Autostock
Actually, on May 8, 1976 at the age of 18, Sterling made his Cup debut at Nashville Raceway after his father suffered a broken shoulder and could not race.
"Being a race car driver is something I always wanted to do," said Sterling, who was also a star quarterback in high school and played basketball. "And fortunately, since the mid 1980s I have been able to land some good rides and keep racing."
Not only racing, but also winning.
Midway through the 2002 season Sterling had amassed 10 career Cup victories, including back-to-back victories in the legendary Daytona 500 in 1994 and '95.
"There is no doubt that my fondest memory is winning that first Daytona 500," Sterling said.
Sterling has good reason to cherish that event.
Not only did he win the Daytona 500, but also it was his first Cup victory in 279 starts.
Coo Coo still recalls Sterling's first trip to Daytona's prestigious winner's circle.
Sterling Marlin
"I remember being there watching the race and everybody started coming up to me with about three laps to go saying Sterling was going to win," Coo Coo said. "And I told them to just wait until he takes the checkered flag before we start celebrating. Then, when he did win, it was a great moment."
Coo Coo's cautious approach to Sterling's breakthrough win at Daytona was not surprising.
Back in 1974, Coo Coo was dominating the Daytona 500 in a '73 Chevy that he and Sterling spent tireless hours preparing.
However in the waning laps, NASCAR officials black-flagged Coo Coo because they thought they saw a loose lug nut on his car.
Unfortunately, the pit stop inspection revealed no loose lug nut and ultimately allowed Richard Petty to win the race instead of Coo Coo, who had to settle for a fourth-place finish.
"I am still angry over that," said Coo Coo, who farmed to make money to race. "NASCAR just didn't want an independent driver like me to win."
Coo Coo, who's real name is Clifton, is the fourth of five brothers. But as an infant, he had trouble saying his name.
In fact, when he tried to pronounce Clifton it sounded like Coo Coo, so his nickname was born and stuck.
These days Coo Coo still lives on the same plot of land as Sterling in Columbia, Tenn.
And he fully enjoys watching Sterling's success.
"It has been great to see Sterling win races and do as well as he has done," Coo Coo said.
As for Sterling, he is astonished about how far the sport of NASCAR has come since the mid-1970s when started in Winston Cup.
"It is amazing how much the sport has grown since just the 1970s and 80s," Sterling said. "I just feel fortunate to still be driving and I feel bad for guys like my dad, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson and Bobby Allison because they really weren't able to reap all the financial benefits for what they did for the sport."
Sterling is right about the massive difference in prize money since he began in '76. In his Winston Cup debut that year at Nashville Raceway he won $565.
Midway through the 2002 season, Marlin's career money total had ballooned to over $21 million.
His best championship finishes to date are third twice in 1995 and 2001.
That may change in 2002 as he sits at the top of the points ladder with half the season remaining.
"It is a situation where I just go out to race to win every week," said Sterling, who has been a fan favorite for many years. "Twenty years ago, winning the points championship wasn't that big of deal. Now, winning a championship is a very big deal and that is our ultimate goal."
Honestly, if Sterling doesn't become the Winston Cup king in 2002, he is not going to stop trying to claim the crown -- at least not anytime soon anyway.
"I see myself driving for at least four or five more years," Sterling said. "The whole key for me to keep racing is to continue to be competitive. As long as I am competitive, I will stay in the sport."
Sterling has won series championships before, but they came in 1980, '81 and '82 at Nashville Raceway.
Sterling also was named Professional Athlete of the Year in Tennessee in 1995 and '96.
No matter when Sterling stops driving it appears that the Marlin name will continue in NASCAR since Steadman, his 21-year-old son, has been competing on a limited basis in the Busch Grand National Series since 2000.
"I never thought much about Steadman following in my footsteps," Sterling said. "He just started racing at Nashville, getting seat time and we will just have to see what he has got."
Coo Coo also is eager to see how things play out for Steadman.
"He is just really get started now and I am looking forward to see what happens from here," Coo Coo said.
2:14 PM EDT (1814 GMT)
Growing up, there was never much doubt what career path Sterling Marlin was going to follow.
"I was always in the shop working with the guys on my dad's (Coo Coo's) cars," Sterling said. "I started doing that when I was 12 or 13 years old. By the time I was 15, I was changing tires for him and then when I turned 16 I was serving as my dad's crew chief and I also started driving."
Coo Coo made 165 Winston Cup starts, in a racing career that spanned from 1947 to 1980.
Sterling Marlin has been driving Winston Cup cars since 1976. Credit: Autostock
Actually, on May 8, 1976 at the age of 18, Sterling made his Cup debut at Nashville Raceway after his father suffered a broken shoulder and could not race.
"Being a race car driver is something I always wanted to do," said Sterling, who was also a star quarterback in high school and played basketball. "And fortunately, since the mid 1980s I have been able to land some good rides and keep racing."
Not only racing, but also winning.
Midway through the 2002 season Sterling had amassed 10 career Cup victories, including back-to-back victories in the legendary Daytona 500 in 1994 and '95.
"There is no doubt that my fondest memory is winning that first Daytona 500," Sterling said.
Sterling has good reason to cherish that event.
Not only did he win the Daytona 500, but also it was his first Cup victory in 279 starts.
Coo Coo still recalls Sterling's first trip to Daytona's prestigious winner's circle.
Sterling Marlin
"I remember being there watching the race and everybody started coming up to me with about three laps to go saying Sterling was going to win," Coo Coo said. "And I told them to just wait until he takes the checkered flag before we start celebrating. Then, when he did win, it was a great moment."
Coo Coo's cautious approach to Sterling's breakthrough win at Daytona was not surprising.
Back in 1974, Coo Coo was dominating the Daytona 500 in a '73 Chevy that he and Sterling spent tireless hours preparing.
However in the waning laps, NASCAR officials black-flagged Coo Coo because they thought they saw a loose lug nut on his car.
Unfortunately, the pit stop inspection revealed no loose lug nut and ultimately allowed Richard Petty to win the race instead of Coo Coo, who had to settle for a fourth-place finish.
"I am still angry over that," said Coo Coo, who farmed to make money to race. "NASCAR just didn't want an independent driver like me to win."
Coo Coo, who's real name is Clifton, is the fourth of five brothers. But as an infant, he had trouble saying his name.
In fact, when he tried to pronounce Clifton it sounded like Coo Coo, so his nickname was born and stuck.
These days Coo Coo still lives on the same plot of land as Sterling in Columbia, Tenn.
And he fully enjoys watching Sterling's success.
"It has been great to see Sterling win races and do as well as he has done," Coo Coo said.
As for Sterling, he is astonished about how far the sport of NASCAR has come since the mid-1970s when started in Winston Cup.
"It is amazing how much the sport has grown since just the 1970s and 80s," Sterling said. "I just feel fortunate to still be driving and I feel bad for guys like my dad, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson and Bobby Allison because they really weren't able to reap all the financial benefits for what they did for the sport."
Sterling is right about the massive difference in prize money since he began in '76. In his Winston Cup debut that year at Nashville Raceway he won $565.
Midway through the 2002 season, Marlin's career money total had ballooned to over $21 million.
His best championship finishes to date are third twice in 1995 and 2001.
That may change in 2002 as he sits at the top of the points ladder with half the season remaining.
"It is a situation where I just go out to race to win every week," said Sterling, who has been a fan favorite for many years. "Twenty years ago, winning the points championship wasn't that big of deal. Now, winning a championship is a very big deal and that is our ultimate goal."
Honestly, if Sterling doesn't become the Winston Cup king in 2002, he is not going to stop trying to claim the crown -- at least not anytime soon anyway.
"I see myself driving for at least four or five more years," Sterling said. "The whole key for me to keep racing is to continue to be competitive. As long as I am competitive, I will stay in the sport."
Sterling has won series championships before, but they came in 1980, '81 and '82 at Nashville Raceway.
Sterling also was named Professional Athlete of the Year in Tennessee in 1995 and '96.
No matter when Sterling stops driving it appears that the Marlin name will continue in NASCAR since Steadman, his 21-year-old son, has been competing on a limited basis in the Busch Grand National Series since 2000.
"I never thought much about Steadman following in my footsteps," Sterling said. "He just started racing at Nashville, getting seat time and we will just have to see what he has got."
Coo Coo also is eager to see how things play out for Steadman.
"He is just really get started now and I am looking forward to see what happens from here," Coo Coo said.