LAS VEGAS, Nev. (March 2, 2003) –  With less than 100 laps remaining in today’s UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400, a multi-car crash wrecked the No. 54 National Guard team’s chance for a top-5 finish. Bodine had worked his way up to third position and almost dodged the bullet when a damaged car came down off the race track to hit the Guard car. Bodine was forced to manhandle his machine to a hard fought 20th-place finish.

“It’s absolutely a shame about what happened to us today,” said Bodine. “We had another top 5 going for us when we got caught up in the crash. It’s so disappointing. I did all I could to drive through it and my spotter called to run low. We thought we had made it out of it but then a car slid down off the track. That’s what happens.There’s not much you can do but just hope for the best. At least we were able to keep going.”

He went on to add, “Up until that point, our car had gotten dialed in and really handled well on new tires. I couldn’t have asked for much more. It was fun to drive out there.”

From the get go, Bodine was on a mission. Within the first 15 circuits around the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Guard car had picked up 7-track positions before settling into the 17 spot in preparations for the first round of pit stops. The only challenge for the No. 54 driver was a tight handling condition through the middle and exit of the corners. So on lap 57 under green, air pressure and wedge adjustments were completed along with taking on four fresh Goodyears and gas. The fast service enabled Bodine to run in 15th spot.

Meanwhile, speed was not lacking in the National Guard car during the second sequence. Crew chief Derrick Finley called out Bodine’s lap times indicating the No. 54 was one of the fastest cars on the track.The handling still needed some retooling and on lap 99, the caution came out to set up another chance to visit pit road. Two laps later the crew went to work and in 16-seconds, they adjusted the air pressure and wedge plus bolted on four fresh tires and added fuel.  

Two more caution periods starting on laps 125 and 137 allowed the No. 54 National Guard car to mix things up with the leaders and by lap 140, Bodine was running in third place. Then on lap 165, the yellow once again was thrown after Jamie McMurray took a spin through the grass. This enabled the frontrunners, including Bodine to come in for service. A minor air pressure adjustment was completed by the Guard crew on lap 167 that resulted in Bodine’s best handling car of the day. Unfortunately the multi-car crash involving Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Kurt Busch, and Mike Skinner occurred less than 10-laps later causing damage to the National Guard Ford Taurus.

“The guys did a great job in the pits trying to get the car back in decent running condition,” continued Bodine. “We came down pit road four times to work on the car before the race went back to green. The front nose really took a hard hit but we got it back out there to drive it home for the finish. I have to hand it to this crew. The three races we’ve run so far, I’ve had a fast car under me. They’ve all been at least top 10-calibur machines. We’ve just got to get a little luck on our side. We’ll be ready next week for Atlanta. That’s one of my favorite tracks.”

To Read More About Today’s Events:
Race Story    Race Results     Point Standings: (Todd picks up two positions)
Skinner Blames Himself For Big Wreck

Photos Coming Monday.
 

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By: Traci Hultzapple
Senior Account Manager – BelCar Racing - No. 54 National Guard Taurus
Cox Marketing Group / Mooresville, NC  28117