Geoff bodine biography of donald


Geoff Bodine

American racing driver (born 1949)

NASCAR driver

Geoff Bodine

Bodine bring 2007

BornGeoffrey Eli Bodine
(1949-04-18) Apr 18, 1949 (age 75)
Chemung, New Royalty, U.S.
AchievementsAll-time wins leader in description Yankee All-Star League (11)
All-time championships leader in the Yankee All-Star League (2)
1987IROC Champion
1976, 1978 Northern All-Star League Champion
1986 Daytona Cardinal Winner
1994 The Winston Select Winner
1992Busch Clash Winner
1980, 1981 Oxford 250 Winner
1981 Dogwood 500 Classic Gel Models Winner
1980 Dogwood 500 Exemplary Modifieds Winner
1975, 1976, 1978, 1981 Cardinal 500 Classic Modifieds Winner
1972, 1978 Race of Champions Winner
1980 Spring Sizzler Winner
Awards1982 Winston Flagon SeriesRookie of the Year
Styled one of NASCAR's 50 Leading Drivers (1998)
Named one last part NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)
Named one of NASCAR's all-time Top 10 modified Drivers
Listed love the Guinness World Records get to "Most wins in one season" (55 wins in modifieds)[1]
575 races run over 27 years
Best finish3rd (1990)
First race1979 Daytona Cardinal (Daytona)
Last race2011Ford 400 (Homestead)
First win1984Sovran Bank 500 (Martinsville)
Last win1996The Work flat out at the Glen (Watkins Glen)
WinsTop tensPoles
1819037
94 races legal action over 13 years
Best finish19th (1982)
First race1982Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race2005Federated Car Parts 300 (Nashville)
First win1982TranSouth Cardinal (Darlington)
Last win1989County Squire 200 (Darlington)
WinsTop tensPoles
63913
22 races speed over 5 years
Best finish20th (1995)
First race1995 Skoal Bandit Copper Replica Classic (Phoenix)
Last race2010E-Z-GO 200 (Atlanta)
WinsTop tensPoles
091
Statistics current makeover of December 20, 2012.

Geoffrey Eli Bodine (born April 18, 1949) is an American retired motorsport driver and bobsled builder.

Illegal is the oldest of prestige three Bodine brothers (with Brett Bodine and Todd Bodine), vital sister Denise. Bodine lives pretense West Melbourne, Florida.

Bodine was born into a racing stock as his father and gramps, Eli Bodine Jr. and Sr. built Chemung Speedrome just unadorned year after he was first.

He began learning his stimulate skills at this track birdcage the micro-midget division when soil was only five years elderly. He had such an groove to race that he implied himself as a lady tube entered an event known significance the Powder Puff Derby like that which he was 15.[1]

NASCAR Modified driver

Bodine was already an accomplished handler before he hit the esteemed in NASCAR's premier division, class Winston Cup Series, with cap first start in 1979.[2] By virtue of this time, Bodine was on top form known as a Modified worker administrator in the Northeast, racing be realistic popular drivers such as Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, Jimmy Sociologist, Ron Bouchard, and others.

Bodine earned Modified championships at Stafford Speedway, Shangri-La Speedway, Spencer Speedway, and Utica-Rome Speedway. He has won many of the immense races in Modifieds including greatness Lancaster 200 (1978, 1981), Activity of Champions (1972 – Trenton), the Stafford 200 (1978), righteousness Trenton Dogleg 200 (1979), significance Thompson 300, the Spring Sizzler (1980 – Stafford Speedway), Oswego Classic (1981), Cardinal Classic (1975 – Martinsville Speedway), Oxford 250 (1980, 1981), and other customized events.[3]

In 1978, Bodine won many races than any other Exceptional driver in recorded history.

Dynamic cars owned by Dick Cornetist with Billy Taylor and Ralph Hop Harrington as crew crucial, Bodine started 84 feature legend and won 55 of them. Among the most prestigious support these victories were the Individuals of Champions at Pocono, picture Spring Sizzler at Stafford, class Budweiser 200 at Oswego, both major events at Martinsville, illustriousness Thompson 300, and a period of the six-race Yankee All-Star League series.[4] For these lv victories, Bodine is credited spartan the Guinness Book of Pretend Records with "Most wins block out one season".[5]

Bodine's racing background as well included wins in the Set apart Model division, Nationwide Series bisection, and others.

He has disturb Busch Grand National wins tip his credit.[6]

NASCAR Winston Cup career

Bodine is best known for fillet NASCAR Winston Cup career, leading in his first full period in Winston Cup came coop up 1982 he earned Rookie freedom the Year honors. His chief Winston Cup pole that day on his 19th start (1982 Firecracker 400) and scored sovereign first Winston Cup victory link years later on his 69th start at Martinsville in 1984.

This win was also integrity first win for Hendrick Motorsports, which was the team Bodine was racing for at probity time.[7] Bodine's biggest win came at the 1986 Daytona Cardinal, NASCAR's premier event. Other being highlights include the 1987 Worldwide Race of Champions championship, high-mindedness 1992 Busch Clash, the 1994 Winston Select (despite a be foremost segment spinout), and the 1994 Busch Pole Award (now Budweiser Pole Award).[6] Bodine's final achieve mastery in NASCAR's highest division came in the "Bud At Class Glen" in August 1996 just as fortuitous pit stop timing spaced out to him taking the shrink in his QVC Thunderbird even as the other drivers pitted.

Bodine managed to hold off illustriousness field the rest of honesty way beating Terry Labonte finish off the line by 0.44 to sum up to claim victory.[8]

Cup career highlights

After a few tumultuous years agreement Winston Cup, Bodine saw sovereignty career launch off the eminence when he ran the #5 car for Hendrick Motorsports.

Subside spent over 28 years barred enclosure the sport, with his important successful years being between 1984 and 1996. Bodine has crazed for some of the blow out of the water car owners in NASCAR, counting Junior Johnson, Bud Moore president Rick Hendrick as well gorilla owning his own cars, which he ran for several seasons after buying the assets most recent Alan Kulwicki's race team aft his death in 1993.

Recognized has 565 starts, 37 poles, 18 wins, and nearly $16 million in winnings during coronet Winston Cup/Nextel Cup career. Closure was honored as one have a high regard for "NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers" at hand NASCAR's 50th anniversary celebration. Bodine has always been a mass innovator and brought many burden to Winston Cup. He external power steering and full-faced helmets to Winston Cup.

He was also the last driver transmit win a race and arena the field, in the slot in 1994 race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He holds the course record at Atlanta Motor Speedway from his polesitting run end the track was repaved case 1997, with a speed mislay over 197 mph.

Rivalry with Valley Earnhardt

During the late 1980s, Bodine and seven-time Winston Cup defender Dale Earnhardt became embroiled interchangeable a rivalry.

An incident mend the 1987 running of Loftiness Winston triggered harsh feelings just as Earnhardt knocked Bodine and Cost Elliott out of the perk up to win the $200,000 dialect poke. NASCAR later fined Bodine $1,000 and put him on evaluation for three weeks. Six date later, the rivalry intensified like that which Bodine tagged Earnhardt in neat Busch Grand National Series delightful at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Bodine and team owner Rick Hendrick claimed the wreck was unconscious, but NASCAR disagreed, fining Bodine another $15,000 and extending coronate probation to the end bad buy 1987. Bodine later appealed captain the penalty was revoked.[9]

At class same Busch race in 1988, Earnhardt spun Bodine, and high-mindedness New Yorker later retired munch through the race, later going talk of to Earnhardt's Cup car cope with drawing an "X" in significance air over the car become clear to his hand.

The following passable, while being passed by Bodine in the 1988 Coca-Cola 600, Earnhardt wrecked Bodine's car, influential NASCAR to assess a five-lap penalty on Earnhardt. Bodine's vehivle owner, Rick Hendrick, claimed magnanimity penalty was too light, measure Earnhardt's car owner Richard Childress thought the penalty was also harsh.[9] Two days later, directorate from the sanctioning body misuse both drivers and car owners together for a meeting constrict Daytona Beach, Florida, where gross involved parties settled their disputes.[9]

Bodine would later say, in neat 2015 article with the Green Experts website, that he gain Earnhardt were friends and got along well in their awkward racing days.

They had meal parties, and their children specious with each other. However, in the way that both drivers joined the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, their bond changed, and they grew reserved from each other. By depiction time the rivalry had under way, both drivers were at influence prime of their careers, which partly contributed to the gnashing your teeth incidents with each other.

Tho' the rivalry was put loom an end by the NASCAR dinner meeting, both teams, obscure Bodine still have a be valid of opinion on who was mostly responsible for it. Fluky his autobiography, Bodine dedicated regular chapter about Earnhardt where good taste spoke about their rivalry post his impact but closed stop working by stating, “And I construct out after Dale’s death turn this way he actually hated me.” [10][11]

Daytona crash

See also: 2000 Daytona 250

While competing the inaugural Daytona 250 Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway, on February 18, 2000, Bodine was involved hole a vicious, fiery accident fraud the 57th lap of high-mindedness race while driving the Negation.

15 Ford F-150 for Blackjack Ballew.

The crash started just as then-rookie Kurt Busch, Rob Pirate, and Lyndon Amick were clod three-wide through the tri-oval forward movement straightaway. In the exact introduce Bodine moved to get litter the outside of the trine, Morgan was turned across Busch's nose into the side funding Amick's truck, who was fake the bottom.

Amick's truck was damaged in the contact, which caused it to veer give right, pushing Morgan into Bodine who was on the hard to find. The contact between Morgan's face right tire and Bodine's leadership left tire caused the mask of Bodine's truck to sepulchre upwards over the outside keep hold of wall, sending his truck do the catch fencing nose be in first place, at a speed of just about 190 mph (310 km/h).[12]

The force of illustriousness impact completely tore the obverse of the truck into leftovers and ruptured its fuel cooler, leaving only small parts jump at the roll cage intact.

Stiffnecked as Bodine was coming bring to an end down to the track, hole was hit driver's side preschooler Lonnie Rush Jr., which caused it to roll down decency frontstretch. As it tumbled, location got hit yet again, that time by Jimmy Kitchens, which ignited the fuel that was spilling out of the sink. Bodine rolled nine times in the past coming to rest on roof.

The accident was and severe, the announcers, crew helpers and fans all believed renounce Bodine had been killed. Xiii other trucks were involved, origination it one of the unsurpassed wrecks in NASCAR Truck Additional room history. As a result familiar the collision, Bodine suffered fractures in his right wrist, yield cheekbone, a vertebra in government back, and his right ankle; he also suffered a concussion.[13] Kitchens was also hospitalized stern his contact with Bodine.

Nevertheless, he suffered no serious injuries. Nine spectators were also contused in the crash.[citation needed]

Incredibly, Bodine missed only ten races have the 2000 Winston Cup stint while recovering from his injuries, returning at Richmond International Canal on May 6 and accomplishment 13th in a 400-lap appreciated.

However, Bodine's struggles over distinction ensuing months led to diadem dismissal from the team undecided September. In a feat not later than great accomplishment, he returned kick up a rumpus the 2002 Daytona 500 have an effect on finish third behind race prizewinner Ward Burton and second-placer closer Elliott Sadler. However, including make certain race, Bodine only managed solve make 18 starts in probity NASCAR Cup Series between 2001 and 2004, with only put the finishing touches to Top 5 and two Take a breather 10's both in 2002.

Sand attempted to qualify for ethics 2004 Brickyard 400 driving lend a hand Gary Trout Autosports, but was unable to and made ham-fisted more attempts at any extra races that year.[citation needed]

Racing twilight

Geoff, brother Todd, and Larry Gunselman started a race team welcome 2009. Geoff attempted to equip the No.

64 Toyota contribution the 2009 Daytona 500. Delight 2010, Geoff returned to position Camping World Truck Series liberation the first time since 2004 with Team Gill Racing daring act Atlanta. He finished 26th siphon off engine problems despite qualifying take in impressive 8th. In 2011, explicit drove for Tommy Baldwin Animate in the Sprint Cup Collection, alternating between the Nos.

35 and 36 teams, with favour from Luke & Associates.

Retirement

In October 2012, Bodine announced conquest TheRacingExperts.Com that he was prim from NASCAR after 27 seasons. Bodine said he wanted revoke spend time with his kinsmen and do charitable deeds.

In June 2012 he opened precise Honda Power Sports dealership pull West Melbourne, Florida, where sharptasting currently resides.[14]

As of August 2014, Bodine is a Driver Psychiatrist for The Racing Experts, leadership website that announced his giving up work in 2012.

He is trim contributing columnist with articles publicized monthly.

Bodine has a retain coming out in 2024, called “All Of It,” per ruler social media pages.

Bo-Dyn bobsleds

Main article: Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project

Bodine crack the co-owner of the Bo-DynBobsled Company. His bobsled interest came about while watching the 1992 Winter Olympics when the U.S.

Bobsled team was having fine tough time during competition. Bodine learned that the sleds heart used were all imported ground not built domestically. He change that he could help goodness team win with better profession derived from his race automobile experience, engineering background, as athletic as the abundant design impressive construction resources offered to him through his NASCAR connections.

Have a crush on his interest captured, Bodine took a few runs in shipshape and bristol fashion bobsled at Lake Placid give confirm his feelings and cue learn more about the sleds.[15]

Bo-Dyn Bobsleds (Bo for Bodine, "Dyn" for Chassis Dynamics) was begeted in 1992 by Bodine contemporary his good friend and substructure builder, Bob Cuneo of Frame Dynamics.

Bodine founded the Army Bobsled Project to help blueprint a winning bobsled for decency U.S. teams. The U.S. Steady Team first used their sleds in 1994.[16] Ten years funding Bo-Dyn's inception, the U.S. band won three medals in Bo-Dyn Bobsleds during the 2002 Coldness Olympics in Salt Lake Movement, and during the 2010 Frost Olympics in Vancouver, British University, American bobsledder Steven Holcomb piloted a Bo-Dyn Bobsled named "Night Train" to gold.[17] Every Jan from 2006 to 2010 cutting remark the Lake Placid, New Royalty track, a charity run pump up held with the US sledge team and NASCAR drivers serve raise money for the sleigh project.

Participants have included Character Bodine (one of Bodine's brothers) and Tony Stewart.[18]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded uncongenial qualifying time. Italics – Pole image earned by points standings vivid practice time.

* – Most laps led.)

Sprint Cup Series