Sterling Marlin Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Sterling Marlin

Marlin in 1996

Born

Sterling Burton Marlin
June 30, 1957 (age 67)
Columbia, Tennessee, U.S.

Achievements

1994, 1995 Daytona 500 winner
1996 Winston 500 winner
1980–1982 Nashville Speedway USA Track Champion

Awards

1983 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year
1995, 1996 Tennessee Professional Athlete of the Year
2002 Tennessee Professional Athlete of the Year Nominee
Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame (2009)
Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)

NASCAR Cup Series career

748 races run over 33 years

Best finish

3rd (1995, 2001)

First race

1976 Music City USA 420 (Nashville)

Last race

2009 TUMS Fast Relief 500 (Martinsville)

First win

1994 Daytona 500 (Daytona)

Last win

2002 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 (Darlington)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
10	216	11

NASCAR Xfinity Series career

77 races run over 17 years

Best finish

29th (2005)

First race

1986 Winn-Dixie 300 (Charlotte)

Last race

2008 Pepsi 300 (Nashville)

First win

1990 All Pro 300 (Charlotte)

Last win

2000 Cheez-It 250 (Bristol)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
2	22	1

Sterling Burton Marlin (born June 30, 1957) is a former American professional stock car racing driver. He is famous for winning the Daytona 500 race twice in a row, in 1994 and 1995. Sterling is the son of another well-known NASCAR driver, Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who also used to race. Sterling is recognized as one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers.

Early Racing Days
NASCAR Cup Series Career
Life After Racing
What Sterling is Doing Now
Television Appearances
Images for kids
See also

Early Racing Days

Sterling Marlin went to Spring Hill High School. He was a talented athlete, playing basketball and football. He was even the captain of his football team in his senior year, playing as a quarterback and linebacker.

In 1976, Sterling started his NASCAR career. He stepped in for his father, who was injured, at Nashville Speedway. He finished 29th in that first race. He raced a few more times in 1978 and 1979. From 1980 to 1982, Sterling became a three-time champion at the historic Nashville Speedway USA.

NASCAR Cup Series Career

Starting Out: 1983–1990

1983 Rookie of the Year

In 1983, Sterling Marlin joined Roger Hamby's team. He earned the NASCAR Rookie of the Year award that season. He finished 19th in the overall standings.

In 1986, Marlin drove for Hoss Ellington's team. He had a great race at the Firecracker 400, finishing second. The next year, in 1987, he got a full-time ride with Billy Hagan's team. He finished 11th in points that year. In 1988, he improved to tenth place in the standings. By 1989, his team got a new sponsor, Sunoco. He had 13 top-ten finishes that year. Sterling left the team at the end of the 1990 season. During 1990, he also won his first Busch Series race at Charlotte.

Winning Big: 1991–1997

Sterling Marlin's car in 1997 at Pocono

In 1991, Marlin joined Junior Johnson's team. He started the season strong with a second-place finish at Daytona. He also won two pole positions (meaning he started first) and had many top-five and top-ten finishes. He ended the season in 7th place overall. In 1992, he continued to do well, finishing 10th in the standings.

Sterling's first big win came in 1994 at the 1994 Daytona 500. This was his 279th race! He drove the No. 4 Kodak Chevrolet for Morgan-McClure Motorsports. He won the Daytona 500 again in 1995, becoming one of only four drivers to win this famous race two years in a row. The other drivers were Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and Denny Hamlin. Sterling is also the only driver whose first two career wins were both Daytona 500s. In 1995, he won two more races and finished a career-best 3rd in the overall standings. In 1996, he won two races and finished 8th in points. He left the No. 4 team at the end of 1997.

New Teams and Challenges: 1998–2006

In 1998, Sterling joined SABCO Racing. He won a qualifying race for the Daytona 500. He finished in the Top 10 six times that year. In 2000, he won his second career Busch Series race.

In 2001, Chip Ganassi bought most of SABCO Racing. The team started using Dodge cars. Sterling won a qualifying race at Daytona again. A few days later, during the 2001 Daytona 500, a tragic accident happened on the last lap involving Dale Earnhardt. Sterling was involved in the contact that led to the crash. After the race, some fans were very upset and blamed Sterling. However, Dale Earnhardt's son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and race winner Michael Waltrip publicly defended Sterling. NASCAR's investigation also found that Sterling was not at fault.

Sterling went on to win Dodge's first race back in NASCAR at Michigan. He also won at Charlotte. He tied his career-best finish of third in the points standings that season.

In 2002, Sterling had a strong car at the 2002 Daytona 500. He was battling for the lead when he made contact with another car. Later, during a red flag (when cars stop on the track), Sterling got out of his car to fix a damaged fender. This is against NASCAR rules, so he was sent to the back of the field for the restart. He still finished 8th.

The next week, Sterling finished second at Rockingham. He then took the points lead and held it for 24 weeks! He won at Las Vegas and Darlington, which was his final Cup Series win.

No. 14 Marlin battles No. 55 Michael Waltrip at the 2006 spring Bristol race.

However, in September 2002, Sterling had a bad crash at Kansas. He broke a bone in his neck and had to miss the rest of the season. Another driver, Jamie McMurray, took his place and even won a race in Sterling's car. Sterling finished 18th in the points standings that year.

In 2003, Sterling didn't win any races but had 11 top-ten finishes. He finished 18th in points again. He almost won at Bristol but was involved in an accident with Kurt Busch.

In 2005, Chip Ganassi Racing announced that Sterling would be replaced by a younger driver for the next season. Sterling missed one race that year to attend his father's funeral. He finished 30th in the final standings.

In 2006, Sterling joined MB2 Motorsports and drove the No. 14 car, honoring his father. He had one top-ten finish that year.

Later Years: 2007–2010

In 2007, Sterling continued to race part-time. He qualified for the first five races. However, in July, another driver took his spot in the No. 14 car. Sterling tried to qualify for a few more races that year and made it into two of them, finishing 25th and 33rd.

Sterling Marlin's No. 09 Cup racecar in 2008

In 2008, Sterling failed to qualify for the Daytona 500. He raced in a few other events, including some for Phoenix Racing. In 2009, he raced a limited schedule in the No. 09 car. His last career start was at Martinsville, where he finished 35th.

Life After Racing

Sterling Marlin announced he was retiring from racing on March 18, 2010. He used to own car dealerships in Tennessee.

In 2012, Sterling shared that he was diagnosed with Parkinsonism, a condition that affects movement. He has had surgery as part of his treatment.

What Sterling is Doing Now

In late 2011, Sterling helped create the Tennessee Racing Association. This group works to keep Fairgrounds Speedway active in the racing community. Sterling has fully retired from NASCAR and from racing in the Pro Late Model Division at Fairgrounds Speedway.

Television Appearances

In 2003, Sterling Marlin appeared on the game show Family Feud. It was a special NASCAR episode. Sterling and his team played against fellow driver Elliott Sadler's team, and Sterling's team won!