Marlin blamed by some for Earnhardt’s death
By Mike Harris
The Associated Press
Sterling Marlin said he “defi
nitely didn’t do anything inten
tional” when he bumped Dale
Earnhardt at the Daytona 500, trig
gering the crash that killed the
stock car racing great. He said it
was “pure luck” he didn’t crash,
too.
The bump and the fatal accident
set off a flurry of ugly e-mail to
Marlin’s Web site, and threats
against him and his family have
been phoned to his race shop in
Mooresville, N.C.
“Maybe people are frustrated
and just looking for somebody to
blame. I’d do anything to not be
here today, to not address this sub
ject,” said Marlin, speaking for the
first time since the racing world
learned of Earnhardt’s death Sun
day night.
“If people just come back to
their senses, listen to what every
body’s saying and watch the tape,
that’s all I ask,” he said by tele
phone from his home in Columbia,
Tenn.
Earnhardt was killed on the
last turn of the last lap of
NASCAR’s season-opening race,
slamming head-on into the con
crete wall after making contact
with Marlin at the front of a tight
pack of five cars fighting for posi
tion.
“I definitely didn’t do anything
intentional. We were just racing
our guts out on the last lap of the
Daytona 500,” said Marlin, a two
time Daytona 500 winner who was
longtime competitor and friend of
Earnhardt’s.
“I’ve only seen the tape once,
but from what I saw, it was a total
ly racing accident,” he said. “Ken
ny (Schrader) pulled up to make it
three-deep going in, with me on
the bottom.
“Some other guys were closing
fast and I think Rusty (Wallace)
got up on him and got him loose.
Dale and my car barely touched,
and it sent my car across the
apron, and Dale’s, too. He over
corrected, and then I didn’t see
him again.”
Marlin somehow kept his car go
ing straight and went on to finish
fifth in the season-opening race.
“It was pure luck I caught it,” he
said. “When you run across the
apron at Daytona at 180 miles an
hour, you usually don’t come
back.”
{ { I definitely didn’t do
anything intentional. We
were just racing our guts
out on the last lap of the
Daytona 500.
Sterling Marlin
NASCAR racer
11
Earnhardt didn’t, sliding into
Schrader. The two of them then
slammed into the wall. The 49
year-old Earnhardt, a seven-time
Winston Cup champion and the
greatest driver of his era, died in
stantly of massive head injuries.
Almost immediately, the threats
and e-mails started for Marlin.
Chip Ganassi Racing team
spokeswoman Gigi Liberati de
clined to go into detail about the
phone calls and electronic mes
sages, and she declined to say
what kind of security measures
have been taken.
“You have to look at every threat
as serious. I obviously can’t go into
detail about what will be done, but
there will be precautions,” she
said.
A patrolman was on duty out
side the Ganassi race shop all day
Tuesday.
By Tuesday, however, Marlin
said the hate mail had slowly
turned to messages of support.
“I didn’t look at the computer,
but I heard it did have some pretty
bad stuff on it,” he said. “Today, I
heard it was all reversed. The calls
I got, there wasn’t a negative call
from anybody.”
Like Marlin, Wallace has been
shaken by The Intimidator’s death.
“He and I were about as close
friends as you can get in our
sport, with the competition and
all that goes along with it,” said
Wallace, who avoided the sliding
cars in Sunday’s race and fin
ished third. “I just keep on run
ning that last lap in my mind and
keep saying to myself, ‘Man, if I’d
just been able to give him a little
tap from the rear ... that could
have meant all the difference in
the world.’ It’s just a helpless
feeling I have.”
Marlin agreed with NASCAR’s
decision to go on with the race in
Rockingham, N.C., on Sunday.
“Dale would want everybody to
go and give it 100 percent,” he
said. “In part, I dread it. But, once
you’re in the car, nobody is mess
ing with you. Dale had been doing
this since he was a kid, and so
have I. Getting in that race car is
what we do.
“I’d like to go to Rockingham,
dominate the race, win and dedi
cate it to Dale and his family.”
\ ' ' /
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Horoscope by Linda C. Black
TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 21). Your imagi
nation and creativity bring attention. Be there
for an older person and receive generous re
wards, as well. Overcome your shyness and
share your visions in February and March. Just
say you will in April. Don't think about the
money; think about the folks you're helping.
Give homework your full attention in May and
steal time from your chores for your family in
June. Do what you love and prosper in July.
Hear constructive criticism in September but
don't let it inhibit your imagination in October.
The boss thinks of you as a friend in December.
You can solve the puzzle to gain riches by next
To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10
is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8
—You’ll do best today working with a team. A
group that's imaginative and creative is perfect.
Do the planning now, but don't take action yet.
[ You’re liable to start out without something
you11 need.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 5
— Be respectful and obedient for the next few
days. Things that could affect you are going on
ovei your head. Maybe you think you have
nothing to do with the outcome, but they all
look to you for common sense and stability.
GEMINI (May 21-Junr 21)—Today is a 7 —
You’re teaching out and learning new things.
You're interested in everything, and this could
help you increase your allowance. Study hard,
especially foreign languages. You're good at
them, and learning a new one could boost your
CANCER (lune 22 July 22)—Today is a 6—
You’re still looking for the best deals. You're
creative and full of great ideas. Tty something
you've read about, but haven't tried before. U
wont be easy, but it could work out well for
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 6 — If
you have a partner or attorney negotiating to get
your money, watch out. You don't want him or
her to get wealthy while you go into debt Keep
an eye on a person you've hired to do your talk
ing or thinking.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)—Today is a 5 —
You're still working hard and not making
enough. The job seems interesting, though, so
don't complain. Make up for it with the fringe
benefits, the skills you team and the friends you
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct 22)—Today is an 8 —
Want to learn how to do something you've nev
er done before? Get a good outfit to match your
new aspirations, and advancement in your ca
reer is quite possible. Look like you're there al
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7
— Home, family and stability are on your
mind. Are you in love? You want to make sure
that your loved ones are secure, but all you want
to do is snuggle. Security's an ongoing assign
ment. Snuggle when you can.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today
is an 8 — You should be pretty good at what
you're doing by now. Go over old material, just
to polish your skills. Put your talents to work,
too. Something that you can do around the
house will save you plenty.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is
a 6 — Money's coming in from work you've
done in the past Those checks are in the mail.
How are you going to spend all this loot? Better
go over your lists one more time, just so you
don't forget anything.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)—Today is an 8
—You and a friend have a scheme to do good
for others. If you haven't got a project like that
going, step on iL This is a way to be a good guy
and also to make a few bucks. No harm in that.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)—Today is a 5 —
Older people, talking behind closed doors,
could affect you and your job. Maneuver your
self to be in the right place at the right time,
with the right skills. This is something of a
guessing game, but you're good at those.
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At 344-0759, ROBIN is GRAD
SCHOOL APPROVED. 20-year the
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