Free Republic

Clifton Marlin, father of Sterling, dies of lung cancer Associated Press COLUMBIA, Tenn. -- Clifton "Coo Coo" Marlin, one of NASCAR's early stars and father of current Nextel Cup driver Sterling Marlin, died Sunday after a battle with lung cancer. He was 73. Marlin died in his hometown of Columbia, Tenn., said officials from Chip Ganassi Racing, which fields cars for Sterling Marlin. "Members of Chip Ganassi Racing will begin racing festivities this morning at Watkins Glen International with heavy hearts as Sterling mourns the passing of his father," the team said in a statement. NASCAR president Mike Helton informed...

<p>Sterling Marlin is a Civil War buff who grew up on the battlefields around his home in Spring Hill --- where some of his ancestors fought --- and is an avid collector of books, relics and artifacts.</p> <p>Last fall Marlin met Jeb Stuart IV, descendant of the famed Confederate cavalryman, who volunteered to take him on a tour of battle sites around Richmond, Va.</p>

<p>CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) NASCAR star Sterling Marlin first learned of the Civil War at the knee of his relatives in Tennessee. On Wednesday, Marlin touched a piece of Confederate history as he toured the recovered submarine H.L. Hunley.</p> <p>Marlin flew here from Charlotte, N.C., after several days of interviews for the upcoming Winston Cup season. Marlin, his wife Paula and 12-year-old daughter Sutherlin spent about 2 1/2 hours learning about the Confederate sub that became the first to sink a ship during wartime.</p>