Marlin leads Daytona testing
Two-time Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin showed he has the speed to win a third 'Great Race' as he topped the times on the first day of this week's Nextel Cup testing at Daytona International Speedway
Marlin, who won the 500 in 1994 and 1995 and nearly added a third win in 2002, was second fastest in the morning session before topping the speeds in the afternoon session with a 187.110 mph lap.
"It's all a compliment to the race team," Marlin said. "Them guys really get after it. It's been a long time since we've been able come in here and be fastest in (testing)."
Second fastest during the day was Scott Riggs, now driving a Dodge for Evernham Motorsports. Third fastest was Kyle Busch in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, who topped last week's testing with Jeff Gordon.
This week's testing sees the beginning of Mark Martin's final season as a full-time Nextel Cup driver. With one more run at the Daytona 500, he is hoping his last chance will see him score his first win in the event.
"It's Daytona," Martin, who finished fourth in last year's Nextel Cup, said. "It's the biggest race of the year and I need to win it. This is my last chance. I'm just gonna try to get in the front on the last lap and hog the track."
Testing continues on Tuesday with single car runs while on Wednesday teams will practice drafting. This week's testing is for those drivers whose cars finished in even-numbered owner points positions in last year's results.
Monday morning speeds:
Pos Driver Car Speed 1. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 186.629 mph 2. Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 186.598 3. Jamie McMurray Ford 186.482 4. Scott Riggs Dodge 186.305 5. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 186.227 6. Greg Biffle Ford 186.139 7. David Green Chevrolet 186.073 8. Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 185.640 9. Kurt Busch Dodge 185.330 10. J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 185.322 11. Terry Labonte Chevrolet 185.319 12. Dale Jarrett Ford 185.227 13. Mark Martin Ford 185.170 14. Michael Waltrip Dodge 185.025 15. Kyle Petty Dodge 184.934 16. Carl Edwards Ford 184.869 17. Jeff Green Chevrolet 184.509 18. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 184.426 19. Hermie Sadler Ford 184.320 20. Casey Mears Dodge 184.222 21. Larry Gunselman Chevrolet 183.887 22. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 183.820 23. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 183.722 24. Paul Menard Chevrolet 183.655 25. Dave Blaney Dodge 183.195 26. Travis Kvapil Chevrolet 183.091 27. Mike Wallace Dodge 183.009 28. Brent Sherman Dodge 182.983 29. Chad Chaffin Chevrolet 182.101 30. Kevin Lepage Chevrolet 181.664
Monday afternoon speeds:
Pos Driver Car Speed 1. Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 187.110 mph 2. Scott Riggs Dodge 186.776 3. Jamie McMurray Ford 186.494 4. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 186.405 5. David Green Chevrolet 186.278 6. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 186.097 7. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 186.020 8. Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 185.954 9. Greg Biffle Ford 185.954 10. Terry Labonte Chevrolet 185.889 11. Kurt Busch Dodge 185.881 12. Jeff Green Chevrolet 185.759 13. Mark Martin Ford 185.636 14. J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 185.578 15. Carl Edwards Ford 185.437 16. Dale Jarrett Ford 185.395 17. Hermie Sadler Ford 185.060 18. Casey Mears Dodge 185.014 19. Kyle Petty Dodge 184.850 20. Michael Waltrip Dodge 184.649 21. Travis Kvapil Chevrolet 184.188 22. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 184.011 23. Paul Menard Chevrolet 184.008 24. Larry Gunselman Chevrolet 183.914 25. Brent Sherman Dodge 183.887 26. Dave Blaney Dodge 183.681 27. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 183.587 28. Kevin Lepage Ford 182.934 29. Mike Wallace Dodge 182.793 30. Chad Chaffin Chevrolet 182.726 31. Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 182.526 32. Morgan Shepherd Ford 182.345 33. Kirk Shelmerdine Chevrolet 181.840
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