DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 7, 2003) – Todd Bodine and the ESGR racing team grabbed an eighth place finish "under the lights" at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in the Winn-Dixie 250 on Independence Day. Bodine now stands in fourth place in the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series drivers points standings, 43 points out of first place.

Herzog Jackson Motorsports (HJM) entered the event at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with six top-fives and 10 top-10's already this season. With only half the of 2003 NASCAR Busch season in the record books, the team has already surpassed last year's statistics of six top-fives and nine top-10's for the entire 2002 season.  

"This team has really pulled together this year," stated driver Todd Bodine. "Tony [Liberati] and the guys have always given 100% at the track each and every weekend. Even with all the sponsorship troubles, they manage to make this team a contender for the championship. We just hope that we can continue and finish this season."

After Thursday's qualifying efforts, Bodine was slated to start in the 20th position in the 100-lap, 250-mile race. On Friday evening under sunny skies and blistering temperatures, NASCAR officials dropped the green flag for the commencement of the event. The No. 92 ESGR Chevy was quick to make its way through the field, and by the 10th lap had found its way into the 10th place.

Bodine continued to hold his spot in 10th place when a caution on lap 43 gave the driver an opportunity to come to pit road for service. Crew chief Tony "Rambo" Liberati made the call for Bodine to come in on lap 44 for four fresh tires and fuel. The green flag flew for the restart on lap 48 with the No. 92 in the eighth position.

Holding the eighth spot for the next 22 laps, Bodine once again entered pit road when the day's second caution was flown on lap 70. Two tires and a splash of fuel were all that were added to the No. 92, and Bodine left pit road with no valuable track position lost. The ESGR Chevy continued to hold the eighth spot for the remainder of the 100-lap event, taking home its eleventh top-10 of the season.  

"The car was really good for most of the night," stated Bodine. "It was a little loose at the start, but Tony and the guys made the adjustments in the pits that really helped for the remainder of the race. I just had a lot of fun tonight in the car, and it's always a pleasure to be able to drive great racecars and just enjoy the racing aspect. Thank you to the people of ESGR for all of their support over the last five races."

Chartered in 1972 by Presidential Proclamation, the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency that acts as a liaison between those serving in the Guard and Reserve and their full-time civilian employers. Consisting of 4,200 volunteers across the United States and overseas, the ESGR has become vital in their services as the employment rights information source for members of the Guard and Reserve.  

The next stop on the NASCAR Busch Series circuit will be Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois for the Tropicana Twister 300 on Saturday, July 12. The event will be broadcast live on NBC at 3:30 pm EDT. MRN Radio will also be broadcasting the event live beginning at 3:30 pm EDT.
 

By:
Holly Heidenwirth / Eclipse Management Co., Inc.