This was the win that truly confirmed that Dodge was back as a power in Nascar Cup, though Sterlin' Marlin had come close to a championship for a Dodge driver in 2001. IIRC, Jeff Burton rear ended Sterlin' in one of the short track races toward the end of the 2001 season and caused a neck injury to Sterlin' that was serious enough that team owner Chip Ganassi pulled him out of the car for the rest of that year.

 

I Thought That Was 2002, And Jamie McMurray Replaced Him for The Last Few Races.

 

A few weeks before that 2002 Daytona race we were in Las Vegas & Mrs BTB was standing in line at a casino betting counter to place bets on the upcoming Superbowl for some of her family members. She noticed that they were also taking bets for drivers in the Daytona 500 so she called me over to see what I thought about picking a driver or two. I told her that having watched racing for some 40 years, I had learned that anything could happen at a racetrack (especially Daytona) and picking anyone would probably be a complete waste of $$$. She said it would make watching the race a little more interesting and which drivers do I like. I told her any of the Dodge drivers were OK with me and no Chebbbie drivers no matter what the odds were. She placed $10 bets on Sterlin' Marlin and Ward Burton, both going off at odds greater than 20 to 1.

When the race was temporarily halted by a red flag 7 laps from the end, Sterlin' and Ward were running 1st & 2nd and Mrs BTB looked over at me grinning like the cat that had just swallowed the canary.

About a week after the race, a check for some $280 came in the mail from the casino.

 

Thats awesome what a great memory

 

I am exactly the same way,and I am a young 78,ha ha, I don't know what to make of what tony Stewart is up to,kinda misleading saying he was interested in pro stock and now going to drive a fuel dragster for Richard Freeman at Elite Motorsports a heavy GM supported team, I thought he was putting Enders in the car Freeman purchased from Heart.I guess this is a wait and see developing story for next year.

I am exactly the same way,and I am a young 78,ha ha, I don't know what to make of what tony Stewart is up to,kinda misleading saying he was interested in pro stock and now going to drive a fuel dragster for Richard Freeman at Elite Motorsports a heavy GM supported team, I thought he was putting Enders in the car Freeman purchased from Heart.I guess this is a wait and see developing story for next year.

Get this my neighbor just won Comp Eliminator at National event in Charlotte,driving his HEMI powered Stratus, Wes Leopold,only his second win at a national event.