Marlin leads afternoon testing at Daytona

[admin]

Veteran emerges as fastest after Day 1 of second session


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Sterling Marlin is already emerging as a favorite to win the Bud Pole for the Daytona 500 next month.

Marlin was blindingly fast in Monday's second-week test sessions for next month's season opener. His fastest afternoon lap (187.110 mph) was the best of the day and more than a tenth faster than his best lap of the morning session.

Both of Marlin's Chevrolets cracked the top five in the afternoon session.
MB2 Motorsports hired Marlin before it had even signed a sponsor. With the acquisition of Marlin, the team was able to piece together a funding package that eventually assured the team of a strong two-car package.

Marlin hasn't had much to smile about since 2002, but he seems rejuvenated in his new surroundings.

"I have worked with a lot of the guys before," Marlin said. "I think we can win the race. We have got fast cars that drive good. I still enjoy it a whole lot."

The best cars of the day didn't vary much from either session, as seven drivers managed to crack the top 10 in both tests. One of those drivers was Denny Hamlin, who will make his first restrictor-plate start at the Daytona 500 next month.

"Top 10 in both, so we're pretty steady," Hamlin said. "If we can pick up a tenth, that would help and jump us into the top five. Look forward to [Tuesday]."

Hamlin enters the year with large amount of confidence, but he is hoping he can get the car to go even faster and nail down a top-10 starting spot in the Daytona 500.

"Right now, we want some more speed and then worry about handling," Hamlin said.

Drafting practice will not start until Wednesday, but Hamlin says he is glad to be testing in this week's session, which has considerably more cars than last week's three-day session.

"I will get a better feel for how these cars draft on Wednesday and that is good," Hamlin said. "There are a lot of cars here to get a good pack together. I think there was [only] 12 cars drafting the first week. If we get a good pack going, I will get a good feel."


Monday afternoon testing

1 14b Sterling Marlin 187.110
2 10a Scott Riggs 186.776
3 26a Jamie McMurray 186.494
4 01a Joe Nemechek 186.405
5 14a Sterling Marlin 186.405
6 25a David Green 186.278
7 01b Joe Nemechek 186.177
8 5 Kyle Busch 186.097
9 07a Clint Bowyer 186.020
10 11b Denny Hamlin 185.954
11 16b Greg Biffle 185.954
12 96r Terry Labonte 185.889
13 2a Kurt Busch 185.881
14 16a Greg Biffle 185.854
15 66 Jeff Green 185.759
16 66x Jeff Green 185.686
17 6a Mark Martin 185.636
18 18b J.J. Yeley 185.578
19 10b Scott Riggs 185.529
20 07 Clint Bowyer 185.456
21 99a Carl Edwards 185.437
22 5a Kyle Busch 185.433
23 88b Dale Jarrett 185.395
24 99b Carl Edwards 185.384
25 26b Jamie McMurray 185.342
26 88a Dale Jarrett 185.288
27 00b Hermie Sadler 185.060
28 42 Casey Mears 185.014
29 45 Kyle Petty 184.850
30 18a J.J. Yeley 184.771
31 11a Denny Hamlin 184.748
32 55 Michael Waltrip 184.649
33 96t Terry Labonte 184.536
34 42x Casey Mears 184.441
35 00a Hermie Sadler 184.381
36 32 Travis Kvapil 184.188
37 2 Kurt Busch 184.173
38 7 Robby Gordon 184.011
39 15 Paul Menard 184.008
40 6b Mark Martin 184.004
41 52a Larry Gunselman 183.914
42 49a Brent Sherman 183.887
43 22a Dave Blaney 183.681
44 29a Kevin Harvick 183.587
45 15a Paul Menard 183.550
46 7a Robby Gordon 183.404
47 55a Michael Waltrip 183.329
48 29 Kevin Harvick 183.240
49 32a Travis Kvapil 183.191
50 52b Larry Gunselman 182.990
51 61a Kevin Lepage 182.934
52 09 Mike Wallace 182.793
53 09a Mike Wallace 182.726
54 92a Chad Chaffin 182.726
55 22 Dave Blaney 182.693
56 95 Stanton Barrett 182.526
57 89 Morgan Shepherd 182.345
58 27 Kirk Shelmerdine 181.840
59 49 Brent Sherman 180.343
60 92b Chad Chaffin 000.000

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[Scooters]

Its great to see Sterling get that fire back in his belly.

A "has been" with a "never was" team ... I hope he blows everybody's doors off and comes in second to my pick. :)