Does Marlin have a ride?

Sterling Marlin, a regular on the circuit since 1987, wants to drive for a couple of more years and wants to remain with Chip Ganassi so he can close his career with a team that was owned by Felix Sabates when Marlin joined it in 1998. That scenario is far from a lock. Marlin is in the last year of his contract with Ganassi and is winless since 2002. He knows to be asked back he will have to show improvement over the three top-fives and a 21st-place points finish of 2004. Ganassi bluntly called the performance of Marlin's team disappointing in prepared remarks to the press during last week's media tour stop at a mammoth new building that houses the cars of Marlin and teammates Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears. "I don't know if we're going to renew," Marlin said. "I talked to Chip about re-upping a month ago to see what we're going to do and Coors is going to do." Marlin indicated that Ganassi didn't close the door. "Chip was open to extending," Marlin said. "I'd like to stay here. I've got a lot of friends here and they've built a really nice shop. I've driven for Felix a long time. So I'd like to retire here if I can." High Point Enterprise