Where will Marlin end up?

UPDATE #2 This rumor is now upgraded to 'fact.' Sterling Marlin confirmed yesterday that he will race the next two seasons for MB2 Motorsports as a teammate of Joe Nemechek. "I've got a deal," Marlin said, "and it's a good one." The 48-year-old racer from Columbia will replace Scott Riggs, who is jumping to Evernham Motorsports next year. MB2, based in Concord, N.C., could have followed the recent trend in NASCAR and picked one of a dozen young drivers with a more polished image than Marlin, a self-described "country boy." But team official Jay Frye said "age equates to experience," and that Marlin's lack of pretension is appealing. "Sterling has no baggage," Frye said. "Everybody likes him." And it wasn't just Marlin's personality that landed him the ride. "We think he can still do it," Frye said. "We're very excited about the next couple of years." Frye said details on Marlin's new sponsor and car number are still being finalized. "They've got good people and a good motor program," Marlin said. "It's a team with a great future." Marlin said he is relieved to get his new deal finalized because it's the last one he will have to negotiate. "Two more years is all I want," he said. "After that I'm done." Tennessean

The signing of Sterling Marlin to drive the #10 Chevrolet of MB2 Motorsports is still in the works, but an insider estimated the official announcement may be a month away. Apparently the sponsorship details are still being worked out, and it’s unlikely that an official announcement will be made until the sponsor is officially signed. Gaston Gazette

08/27/05 Sterling Marlin appears headed to MB2 Motorsports next season as a teammate of Joe Nemechek, although the veteran racer from Columbia said yesterday the deal is not finalized. "It's a good team with a good engine program," Marlin said. "Joe has won with it." Marlin is expected to take over the team's #10 Chevrolet currently driven by Scott Riggs. Riggs will move to Evernham Motorsports next year. "We're still talking," Marlin said of MB2. "We should know something soon." Tennessean 08/07/05 "Nope, nothin' yet," Sterling Marlin said as a reporter approached him in the infield at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where rain washed out a scheduled practice session yesterday. The veteran racer from Columbia is searching for a new Nextel Cup ride, having been informed that he won't be retained at Chip Ganassi Racing after this season — 16 more races. "I'm still talking to some people," Marlin said. "In fact I've had a couple of conversations this week. But there's a lot of things involved — sponsors and stuff like that — so I don't know anything definite yet." Marlin said he won't settle "for just any ride. I want to go with a team that can give me a good car, good motor, and a good pit crew. I want to be with a competitive team that can win races." And if such an opportunity fails to present itself? "It won't be the end of the world," Marlin said. "If I can get with a good team, that'll be great. If not … well, life goes on."

There had been speculation that Marlin might join Richard Childress Racing [#07], having been offered a ride there toward the end of last season, but Childress recently indicated he will stick with his present drivers. Another scenario had Marlin replacing retiring #6-Mark Martin at Roush Racing, but Roush is trying to talk Martin into racing one more year before turning the car over to Jamie McMurray in 2007. Another report has linked Marlin with Richard Petty's famous #43 as a replacement for Jeff Green. Marlin declined to comment on any of the reports, probably out of courtesy to the drivers who currently have the rides. "I figure we'll know something before long," said Marlin, "I'll keep looking and see what turns up." Tennessean