Marlin considering consultant role

Sterling Marlin yesterday said he will "consider" an offer to remain at Chip Ganassi Racing next year as a consultant — a move that would end his Nextel Cup racing career — but made it clear he hopes to land a new ride with a different team. "Chip and his people have made a really good offer," Marlin said from his home in Columbia, referring to a six-figure deal that would keep him at Ganassi Racing in a non-driving role. "The offer's on the table but I haven't given them my answer yet. I want to wait and see what happens." What Marlin is waiting on is word from "two or three really good" Nextel Cup team owners about his prospects of driving for them next year. "We've talked, but nothing has been decided yet," Marlin said. "Hopefully I'll know something soon." In addition to receiving an offer to remain with the team as a consultant, Marlin's longtime sponsor Coors also offered him a three-year personal-services contract. Marlin said he could take the Coors offer and continue to drive for another team, as long as it was not sponsored by a rival brewery. "I couldn't be a spokesman for Coors and race for some other (beer) company," he said. "But as long as there was no conflict I could do both. Coors and I go way back. They sponsored my car when I was 19 and racing at the Fairgrounds." Another development over the weekend was an extension of Marlin's contract with FitzBradshaw Racing to continue to drive their car in a partial Busch Series schedule next year, but with one major addition: Marlin would be joined by his son Steadman. "I'd run about 20-25 races and Steadman would run the rest," Marlin said. "The details aren't worked out yet, but this could be a big chance for him." Marlin said he could run the Busch races even if he accepted the consultant offer from Ganassi. "Working for Ganassi and running Busch wouldn't be a problem," he said. "But I couldn't work for Chip and run Cup." Tennessean