Two time Daytona 500 Champion Sterling Marlin has officially filed his entry to compete in the 2nd Annual Mercy Masters of the Pros 144 to be held at the “High-Banks” of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway. The highest paying Pro Late Model Race on the schedule in 2014 takes place on Saturday May 17thand Sterling will be driving his own Pro Late Model entry in the $8,000 to win event.
Marlin, who competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, captured 10 wins with 216 top 10’s and 11 pole awards.
Sterling’s first NASCAR win came in the 1994 Daytona 500 in the Morgan-McClure Kodak Oldsmobile backed that up with a 1995 Daytona 500 win. The 1983 NASCAR Rookie of the Year competed in 748 races in NASCAR’s top tier division. His highest finish in the point standings was third. Sterling had a chance at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in 2002 while driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, but a hard crash at Kansas Speedway forced him out of action with a cracked vertebra after a stellar 2001 season finishing 3rd in the standings. He brought Dodge their first major win after returning to NASCAR Racing. Marlin announced his retirement in 2010 and was a 3-time Nashville Fairgrounds Late Model Champion from 1980-1982.
Marlin still competes in the Pro Late Model class at Nashville and was second in points in 2013 while capturing 2 wins. Understanding the importance of weekly short-track racing, he helped to lead a group to save racing at the 5/8ths Nashville oval. This will be Sterling’s first ever JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance event and his first race in the state of Missouri. “Kevin hit me up to come race and after seeing pictures of the track and how racy it looks and the facility, it made me want to take a road trip and $8,000 is a good reason to compete.” said Marlin
Marlin will be one of a great field of entries expected from multiple states and Canada attempting to make the field of 28 on May 17th. Marlin will take part in the popular autograph session after Boyne Machine Qualifying around 5:45 along with all of the JEGS/CRA ALL-STARS.
The event is the largest paying on the JEGS/CRA ALL-STARS tour and the longest feature they compete in at 144 laps. Fans get plenty of green flag racing as cautions after the lap 100 pit stop do not count.
The event will also include the NASCAR Budweiser Modifieds along with one more I-44 Speedway class.
I-44 Speedway PR
