Nextel Cup Series

PERSONAL Birthdate: June 30, 1957 Hometown: Columbia, Tenn. Resides: Franklin, Tenn. Marital Status: Married (Paula) Children: Steadman (10/29/80), Sutherlin (3/5/90) Hobbies: Collecting Civil War artifacts; watching University of Tennessee football

HIGHLIGHTS 1994 and '95 Daytona 500 champion Has finished among the top 10 in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series five times Led 2002 series championship for 25 weeks Twice named Tennessee's Athlete of the Year (1995-96) Three-time track champion at Nashville Raceway (1980-82)

YEAR-BY-YEAR NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES RECAP 2004 Finished 21st in series points. Finished outside the top 20 in points for the first time since 1997, when he finished 25th. Had three top fives and seven top 10s. Best start of the season was third at Bristol on Aug. 28; Finished sixth in the race. 2003 Finished 18th in points for the second consecutive season. Had 11 top-10 finishes. Finished the season with back-to-back top-10 finishes, moving from 19th to 18th in points. In 21 full-time seasons, has finished in the top 20 in points 17 times. Marlin returned from a neck injury that ended his 2002 title bid. 2002 Finished 18th in series points. Enjoying the most productive year of career when a neck injury that was a result of an accident at Kansas on Sept. 29 ended his season. Was in pursuit of his first series title, having led the championship race for 25 consecutive races. The run spanned from the second race of the season, Rockingham, through Richmond in September. Fell to second in the points race the following week at New Hampshire, overtaken by Mark Martin. Was fifth in the points when his injury sidelined him and was replaced by Jamie McMurray. Made 29 starts for Chip Ganassi Racing and posted two wins, at Las Vegas and Darlington (spring). Season willalso be remembered for infamous moment during Daytona 500, which was red-flagged while he was leading the race. While the cars were stopped, he got out of his car and began working on some body damage. He was penalized for the infraction and ultimately finished eighth. 2001 Finished third in series points, matching career best established in 1995 with Morgan-McClure. First full season with Chip Ganassi running the operation and driving a Dodge resulted in a pair of wins (Michigan, Charlotte) and a career-best 12 top-five performances. Victory at Michigan in August was his first since winning the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July of 1996. Also paced Dodge in its return to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, giving manufacturer its first win since Neil Bonnett won Nov. 20, 1977 at Ontario, Calif. with his triumph at Michigan. Also earned a pole at the Pepsi 400, his first since 1999. Earned a career-best $4,517,634, which more than doubled his previous career best established in 1995. 2000 Finished 19th in series points. Had seven top-10 finishes led by a season-best second at Infineon. Final season with Chevrolet, as owner Felix Sabates sold majority interest of team to Chip Ganassi. 1999 Finished 16th in series points. Notched two season-best fourth-place finishes, marking his first top-five efforts as driver for Team Sabco. Five top-10 efforts overall and first pole since 1995. 1998 Finished 13th in series points. Parted ways with Morgan-McClure after four seasons and joined Felix Sabates’ operation, Team Sabco. Did not record a top-five finish, but managed six top-10 efforts. 1997 Finished 25th in series points. Final season with Morgan-McClure was the least productive of the four together; went winless after registering six wins in the previous three seasons. Managed six top 10s. Points finish was lowest since running a limited schedule in 1986 and finishing 36th. 1996 Finished eighth in series points. Enjoyed another strong campaign with Morgan-McClure with second consecutive multiple-win season. Had two wins – Pepsi 400 at Daytona and Talladega – and 10 top-10s. 1995 Finished third in series points. Breakthrough season as he broke into the top five in the championship for the first time in his career and enjoyed a multiple-win season. Won three races, including his second consecutive Daytona 500. Other wins came at Darlington and Talladega, which he won from his lone pole of the season. Posted 22 top-10 finishes, including nine among the top five. 1994 Finished 14th in series points. Left Stavola Brothers for Morgan-McClure and the move paid off by finally capturing first series victory. Did so in grand fashion by winning the prestigious Daytona 500, his first start for the team and his 279th overall. Earned 11 top-10 finishes Also took pole at Phoenix. 1993 Finished 15th in series points. Moved from Junior Johnson to the Stavola Brothers, his only season with the team. Posted eight top-10 finishes, including a season-best second at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. 1992 Finished 10th in series points. Second and final season with Junior Johnson was solid, but was unable to land elusive first win. Had 13 top-10 finishes, including three runner-up performances. Total gave him five secondplace finishes with Johnson during their two-year relationship. Won five poles, which ranked second in the series to Alan Kulwicki’s six. 1991 Finished seventh in series points. Left Billy Hagen’s team for opportunity with legendary Junior Johnson and it paid off immediately. Had best finish in the points up to this point of his career – topping 10th in 1988 – and also had career-high totals for top 5s and top 10s. Had 16 top-10 efforts, including seven among the top five. Unable to score his first win, but matched career-best finish with second-place finishes at the Daytona 500 and Bristol. Won first pole, for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in his 205th career start. Also won the pole two races later at Talladega. 1990 Finished 14th in series points. Fourth and final season with Billy Hagen. Had 10 top-10 finishes, including five in the top five. 1989 Finished 12th in series points. Enjoyed another productive season with Billy Hagen with 13 top-10 finishes. Season-best finish was second at Charlotte. 1988 Finished 10th in series points. Second season with Billy Hagen, cracked the top 10 in the final points. Had 13 top-10 finishes in 29 starts and matched career-best finish with a second-place at Martinsville. 1987 Finished 11th in series points. Signed with Billy Hagen for first full season since winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1983. Had eight top-10 finishes in 29 starts. 1986 Finished 36th in series points. Moved over to Hoss Ellington’s operation and competed in 10 races, which would wind up being his final limited race season. Was impressive in the limited time, posting four top-10 finishes, including runner-up to Tim Richmond at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. 1985 Finished 37th in series points. Competed in only eight races. Ran seven for Earl Sadler and one for Helen Rae. 1984 Finished 37th in series points. Tough sophomore season for 1983 Rookie of the Year, running for three teams in only 14 events. Made 11 starts for Earl Sadler, which included a pair of top-10 finishes. Also ran for Dick Bahre (2) and Jimmy Means (1). 1983 Finished 19th in series points. After winning track championships at Nashville Raceway the previous three years, landed first full-time ride in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series with owner Roger Hamby. Resulted in Rookie-ofthe- Year award. Competed in 30 events and posted one top-10 finish. 1982 Finished 115th in championship points. Made one start for Matthews Racing, finishing 23rd at Charlotte fall race. 1981 Finished 93rd in championship points. Made two starts, one for Coo Coo Marlin and the other for D.K. Ulrich. Did not finish either race. 1980 Finished 49th in championship points. Made five starts, driving for three different owners – Coo Coo Marlin, Jim Stacy and D.K. Ulrich. Had two top-10 finishes. 1979 Finished 86th in championship points. Made one start for Coo Coo Marlin, at Nashville, finishing 15th. 1978 Finished 69th in championship points. Made two starts for his father Coo Coo’s team. Finished ninth at World 600. 1976 Finished 102nd in championship points. Made first series start May 8 at Nashville, where he started 30th and finished 29th. Start was the result of his father, Coo Coo, sustaining a broken shoulder and putting his 18-year-old son in the family entry.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY Won three consecutive track championships at Nashville Raceway, 1980-82. Has two career victories in the NASCAR Busch Series.

NOTEWORTHY Was named Professional Athlete of the Year in Tennessee in 1995 and ’96. At Columbia (Tenn.) High School was named team captain and an All Mid-State selection, playing quarterback and linebacker. Also played high school basketball. ... Collects Civil War artifacts. ... Avid University of Tennessee football fan.