Marlin gets career boost as Dodge pace-setter

The two-time Daytona 500 winner leads the NASCAR Winston Cup Standings by 35 points over Jeff Gordon after the first three races. Ganassi Dodge driver Marlin is the only driver who has recorded top 10 finishes in all three races this season.

The last time a Dodge driver led the NWCS was July 31, 1977 when Richard Petty held the top spot after Pocono.

"We've hired a lot of good people," Marlin said of his team's success. "We crank the car every Sunday and just like at Vegas, [crew chief Tony] Glover says, 'OK, this is round three.' This will be round fourth for the fourth race of the season. If we're still leading the points toward the end of the season we might go conservative on some stuff, but when they drop the flag we're going to try to win it and let the points take care of themselves."

Marlin is one of 10 Winston Cup drivers racing a Dodge Intrepid. Plus, he has a new team owner this year after CART team owner Chip Ganassi bought into Felix Sabates' Winston Cup operation.

"When Chip Ganassi bought the team and Andy Graves came over last year in July or August, he started hiring some people," Marlin said. "Chip wants to win. Just like Las Vegas last week, he set us all down and asked what he could do to make us better. He asked us what we needed, and that's the kind of guy he is.

"If you've got any suggestions, just tell him and he'll do what he can for us. Basically, you've got to get the people and equipment together and then you just try and not do anything stupid."

Marlin's immediate goal is to become the first driver to win a race for Dodge. After that, he can focus on running for the Winston Cup title. Not bad for a driver that was becoming a forgotten man in the sport.

"We're glad to be on top and be running good," Marlin said. "I've never lost anything. We just got the right parts and people and we're right back on top.

"So far, so good. I sleep good. It's fun to come to the race track knowing you're going to run good."