DOVER, DEL. (September 22, 2003) – Todd Bodine and the National Guard crew collected their tenth top 20th of the season after finishing 17th in the MBNA America 400. The crew got the car 54 dialed in when it counted the most.

“Our car really took off after the final two pit stops of the day,” said Bodine who started the event 33rd based on owner points. Qualifying was cancelled due to Hurricane Isabel. “For most of the race, we started out loose and then the car got tough to turn through the middle of the corners the longer the run. We kept working on it and working on it and finally we got the car to handle the way we needed. It came at exactly the right time.”

Earlier in the week, NASCAR announced a new racing-back-to-the-yellow-flag procedure. In the past, a driver could get a lap back if he raced past the leader before taking the caution flag. It was a controversial issue with many drivers since safety was sometimes compromised in order to gain a lap. Starting at Dover, the competitor with the highest scored position not on the lead lap would be awarded a lap. For the National Guard team, they were the first to benefit from the new rule

“When I first heard that NASCAR was going to do away with racing back to the yellow flag, I had mixed feelings because the rumor was once you were a lap down, the only way you could it back was under green flag conditions. That’s next to impossible to do. I also understood the reason with doing away with it because safety was always an afterthought. It’s just the art of competition. You do what you have to do and hope no one makes mistakes. But when NASCAR met with us and explained it on Saturday, I was really impressed. I really have to commend the sanctioning body. The ruling puts safety first and yet, it’s very fair, maybe even generous to the competitors. You still have a shot at getting back in the race, if you have a good car.

“At a place like Dover, if you are starting in the back, despite how good of a car you have, you still have a chance at getting a lap down because it’s a small track,” continued Bodine. “I found it out yesterday because we were running 20th after gaining 13 positions on the track. In just 72 circuits, we were a lap down. Having the opportunity to get it back under the new ruling is very fair. Just ask Ryan Newman. He was two laps down and ended up winning the race because he had a good car and a good strategy. It’s just racing and everyone has the same opportunities. It’s just who can play it out the best.

“I was thinking to myself that the National Guard team is in the trivia books. We are the first team in the history of NASCAR to benefit from this new ruling.”

Bodine actually battled back two times to get on the lead lap during caution flags on laps 78 and 364. However, it was the final caution that made the biggest difference. 

“We were actually a top 10, top 15 car on the short runs,” remarked the driver of car 54. “It raced really well for 30 laps. After that, the car would fall off a bit by starting to push through the corners. I was happy to see the last caution because I felt once the race went back to green; we’d have a shot at gaining positions on the track.”

The Guard car restarted in 19th position and rallied back to take the checkered flag in 17th place. Meanwhile, Ryan Newman overcame a two-lap deficit and a gamble on fuel to win the MBNA America 400. It’s his seventh victory of the year. The win also gives him a season sweep at the track known as the Monster Mile. 

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Read More About The Race:  AP Race Story --- Stewart/Goodyear --- 
 

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