NASCAR BGN: Todd Bodine always at the top at Gateway International
27 July 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
"I've competed in each of the three races that have been run at Gateway International Raceway and I've been with Cicci-Welliver Racing each time. The first year we raced there we had a car capable of winning the race. We were one of the many victims of the track that year. Each year we've been back to St. Louis, we've had at least a top-10 car." -- Todd Bodine, driver of the No. 66 Phillips 66 Chevrolet Todd's Thoughts On Gateway . . . "The track at St. Louis is pretty unique. It's shaped a lot like Darlington but it doesn't have nearly the same amount of banking as Darlington. It's a pretty tough track to get adjusted to and to get around. We've always run well at St. Louis, but circumstances have gotten in the way of a win. Racing at night last year really tightened the race car up in the race because the temperatures did cool somewhat. We battled the handling on the race car pretty much all night until the last 50 laps or so when the handling on the car really improved and we were able to get into the top 10. We learned a lot about night racing last year and hopefully that information will help us during the race this year. We've had a rough month of July. A win would feel really good right now, but at this point we would be happy to get at least a top-10 finish for Phillips 66."
The Equipment . . . "Fido" is the machine Bodine will compete with this weekend at Gateway International Raceway. "Fido's" most recent appearance was at South Boston Speedway in June. Bodine qualified sixth for that event, but an accident put the Phillips 66 team out of contention for the win. "Fido's" best performance to date is a third-place finish at Pikes Peak International Raceway in 1999. It's the same car Bodine finished 10th with at St. Louis one year ago.
Todd Lends A Hand . . . Although the Phillips 66 team did not test at Gateway International Raceway, Bodine did spend a little time in St. Louis prior to traveling to Colorado last week. Bodine traveled to the Gateway with Hendrick Motorsports driver Ricky Hendrick. As part of the alliance between Cicci-Welliver Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, Bodine spent two days helping the young driver get a feel for the 1.25-mile oval.
Text provided by Penny Copen
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