NASCAR BGN: Todd Bodine looks for fun at Colorado
20 July 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
"I really love going out to the race in Colorado. The race there last
year
was my first at the track and it was my first time visiting the state of
Colorado. Everyone told me how beautiful that part of the country is and
seeing is believing. The area is beautiful and the race track is a lot of
fun. There's room for two-wide racing and it can be a pretty exciting
event."-- Todd Bodine, driver of the No. 66 Phillips 66
Chevrolet
Todd's Thoughts On Pikes Peak . . . "When we raced at Pikes Peak last year
it was the first time I had ever seen the race track. Donnie (Richeson)
raced there in 1998, so the team knew a little about what to expect. I was
really pleased with the race track last year. It's a great race track for
side-by-side racing. The track is pretty comparable to Las Vegas. We ran
well at Las Vegas and we should de pretty well at Pikes Peak. The Busch
race
there last year was a pretty exciting race. We didn't have the best
handling
race car there last year, but we managed to get a top-five finish. We have
a
lot of people from Phillips 66 coming to the race at Pikes Peak this year
and it would be a lot of fun to get a win in front of them."* Bodine made his first start at Pikes Peak International Raceway during the 1999 NAPA Autocare 250. Bodine finished the 250-lap event in third place after posting a 15th-place qualifying position.
The Equipment . . . "Gambler" makes its second appearance of the 2000 NASCAR Busch Series season this weekend at Pikes Peak International Raceway. "Gambler" is the same car Bodine competed with earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Bodine scored a fourth-place finish at Las Vegas while racing "Gambler."
Last Weekend in Nazareth . . . Bad fortune reared its ugly head once again on the Phillips 66 Performance Team. After qualifying ninth and putting together a race car capable of a top-five finish, Bodine was tapped from behind on the fourth lap of the Econo Lodge 200. The Phillips 66 car went spinning into the turn one wall, suffering front and rear end damage, a broken track bar, bent steering and two flat tires. Bodine lost 46 laps while the car was repaired and finished the day in 40th place.
"This is just a typical deal for this race team," Bodine said. "The Phillips 66 Chevy was running good. We had a good car in happy hour and we're going to be able to run with Jeff (Green). I'm just not meant to win the championship this year."
Text provided by Penny Copen
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