| Sterling Marlin was born on June 30, 1957 in Columbia, | | | | season to get better results and also managed to |
| Tennessee. He is married to Paula Marlin and together | | | | snag a couple of sponsorship deals. |
| they have two children, Steadman and Sutherlin. The | | | | Marlin made his first career win in 1994 during the |
| reason why Marlin's name is familiar is because he is | | | | Daytona 500 and astonished everyone when he |
| the son of former NASCAR driver, Coo Coo Marlin. | | | | repeated his success the next year. There have only |
| His father introduced Marlin to racing at a young age | | | | been two other drivers who have been able to do |
| and started it out by helping Coo Coo Marlin in his | | | | so and they were Richard Petty and Cale |
| shop. Once Marlin was 15, he was his father's tire | | | | Yarborough. Marlin also made history for making his |
| changer and after a year of diligent work and | | | | first two career wins the Daytona 500. However, in |
| dedication, Coo Coo Marlin made Marlin his father's | | | | 2001, his car had made contact with Dale Earnhardt |
| crew chief. | | | | Sr's car which then proved to be fatal. Because of |
| Marlin was an all 'round student back in Tennessee. | | | | what happened, Marlin and his family was the focal |
| When he wasn't helping his father on the tracks, he | | | | point of hatred and were living in fear because of the |
| was playing high school basketball and football. During | | | | death threats they received from unhappy fans. Dale |
| his senior year, he was made captain while playing | | | | Earnhardt Sr's son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael |
| both quarterback and linebacker. | | | | Waltrip absolved and defended Marlin publically and his |
| Marlin made his NASCAR debut in a rather | | | | name and reputation was cleared as a result of |
| untraditional manner. He had to take over his father's | | | | NASCAR's investigation into the tragedy. |
| spot when Coo Coo Marlin injured himself during the | | | | In 2002, Marlin had to suffer from a severe neck |
| Nashville Speedway in 1976 and he was 19 years old. | | | | injury which was the result from a crash in the |
| Although enthusiastic about taking over for his | | | | Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway. This |
| father, he only managed 55 laps suffering oil pump | | | | caused him to miss the remainder of the season. In |
| failure in the race. After that, Marlin was given more | | | | 2005, Marlin had to undergo another loss. This time it |
| chances to race. He made two starts in 1978 in which | | | | was the passing of his father, Coo Coo Marlin. In |
| he finished ninth at World 600 and twenty fifth at | | | | 2006, Marlin went under MB2 Motorsports to drive |
| Nashville for Cunningham. Soon after, Marlin won | | | | the #14 Waste Management Chevy in tribute to his |
| three Nashville Speedway track championships and | | | | father. He was quoted as saying, "To drive a car |
| soon raced for Roger Hambry to drive his #17 Hesco | | | | with the same number that my father drove makes |
| Exhaust Chevrolet in his first full Cup season. With | | | | the move even more special." |
| that, he finished 19th in points and won Rookie of | | | | Marlin's son Steadman has also been bitten by the |
| the Year. Later in 1986, Marlin joined Hoss Ellington. | | | | racing bug and as a result, has started racing as well. |
| That season, his best was when he came second in | | | | When Marlin is off track, he is either helping his son |
| the Firecracker 400. However, in 1987 he was hired | | | | with his career, watching Tennessee Volunteer |
| full time by Billy Hagan. With four top-fives and | | | | football and collecting Civil War artifacts. |
| finishing eleven in points, he went on to the next | | | | |