Sterling Marlin Wins Saturday Night Special

BY BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
BRISTOL, Tenn. – NASCAR’s legends were back where they belonged. And Sterling Marlin showed that he still has it.

Marlin led all 35 laps and grabbed the checkered flag in the first-ever Scotts Saturday Night Special legends race at Bristol Motor Speedway before an estimated crowd of 75,000.

“I had a ball,” Marlin said.

Rusty Wallace took second and L.D. Ottinger finished third in the event, which raised $100,000 for selected charities and was televised live on ESPN2.

The race marked the first time many veteran NASCAR drivers had participated in a competitive run in more than a decade. NASCAR legends Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Terry Labonte and Harry
Gant were among the former NASCAR drivers who drove late-model cars in the charity event.

“It’s good to be back,” said Yarborough, who finished ninth and showed off a large smile before and after the race. Yarborough said he had fun – a sentiment echoed by many of the participants – but did not do his car justice.

Yarborough, Wallace and Bobby Allison drew the biggest cheers from fans. Allison did not compete, but he drove the pace car for the main event and was introduced to the crowd during the pre-race buildup.

Wallace said the enthusiasm and adrenaline associated with Bristol Motor Speedway made the venue perfect for the inaugural legends race. He said he could imagine NASCAR running three of the legends-based charity events a year, as the sport attempts to reconnect with and reach out to fans during the current economic recession.

“It’s awesome being here,” said Wallace, who drove a powder-blue No. 2 Miller Lite car built specifically for Saturday’s run. “The last time I drove here, it was the old track. I like this new track.”

Fans appeared to appreciate the opportunity to watch some of NASCAR’s biggest names push the pedal one more time. As drivers such as Yarborough and Gant signed memorabilia and shared memories, fans snapped pictures and shouted words of approval in support of their heroes.

“This is pretty cool,” said Richard Smith, a resident of Kingsport, Tenn.

Philadelphia Eagles kicker David Akers won the first celebrity qualifying race, while ESPN NASCAR analyst Andy Petree claimed the second trial run. Petree’s strong run set up Marlin’s victory, as the two were paired together in the legends-celebrities event.

Petree said the race was “awesome.”

“Look at all these people,” Petree said, referring to fans that remained in the stands after watching the finish of the NASCAR Nationwide Scotts Turf Builder 300.

NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer said it was important for the sport to remember the drivers who helped build it from a Southern fascination into a national phenomenon.

“Those guys … that’s their time to shine again,” Bowyer said. “Those guys are the true heroes of the sport and what made the sport what it is.”

Bowyer said he could not imagine leaving the spotlight of the NASCAR world behind. He said he expected Saturday’s legends race to kindle a new spark in drivers who once dominated speedways across the country.

Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer and former Auburn football coach Terry Bowden participated in the first qualifying run. So did Mike Compton, the football coach at Patrick Henry High School and a former lineman for the New England Patriots.

btsmith@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2569

Scotts Saturday Night Special Legends Race
At Bristol Motor Speedway
35 laps
1, Sterling Marlin
2, Rusty Wallace
3, L.D. Ottinger
4, Terry Labonte
5, Jimmy Spencer
6, Harry Gant
7, Phil Parsons
8, Jack Ingram
9, Cale Yarborough
10, David Green
11, Junior Johnson
12, Larry Pearson

Qualifying run 1
15 laps
1, David Akers
2, Bill Jordan
3, Riki Rachtman
4, Frank Beamer
5, Mike Compton

Qualifying run 2
15 laps
1, Andy Petree
2, Brad Daugherty
3, Ron Capps
4, Ray Evernham