The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

NASCAR BGN: Todd Bodine Wraps Up 2000 Season And Busch Series Career

15 November 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Todd Bodine completed the 2000 NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division season this past weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In addition, the Chemung, N.Y. - native concluded his career in the Busch Series as he will move to the Winston Cup Series for the 2001 season. Bodine was poised to end his Busch Series career on a strong note until the kill switch - a NASCAR mandated safety feature - malfunctioned and caused the Phillips 66 Chevrolet to lose power. By the time the team discovered and corrected the problem, Bodine was five laps down to the leaders, ultimately finishing 32nd. Bodine will attend the NASCAR Busch Series banquet in Beverly Hills, Calif., on January 12, 2001, to receive recognition for finishing the 2000 season fourth in the final driver points standings, his final hoorah in the series.

"Our goal this season was to win the Busch Series championship," Bodine said. "This team did what it had to do to accomplish that goal. They stayed focused and they gave 110 percent every weekend. What we didn't have was the luck. This team should be proud of what they accomplished given our luck this year. The race at Homestead was kind of the icing on the cake for us. It exemplified the type of season we've had."

Bodine concluded the 2000 season with a win at Michigan, a pole at Richmond, 14 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes. The 2000 season stats brings Bodine's career totals to 11 career wins, 72 top fives and 131 top 10s in 236 Busch Series starts. Bodine's top-10 finish percentage improved to 56 percent.

"I've been ready to make the next step to Winston Cup for a long time," Bodine said.. "The right situation never presented itself until now. I am really going to miss working with this team and with Phillips 66. They're a good sponsor and I wish we could have won the championship for them.

"This team consistently gave me good race cars every weekend. We had a car capable of finishing in the top five almost every weekend. If we didn't finish in the top five, we finished in the top 10 or something would happen to take us out of contention that was beyond our control. Aside from maybe a couple of races, we had top-five cars every weekend and that's a tribute to this team and their hard work."

The Phillips 66 team will spend the off-season preparing for the 2001 season. Tim Fedewa will assume the driving duties of the No. 66 Chevrolet Monte-Carlo for the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series season. Crew chief Donnie Richeson will return as leader of the Phillips 66 team in 2001.

Todd Bodine/Phillips 66 Performance Team 2000 Highlights

* Bodine topped the $3 million mark in NASCAR Busch Series career earnings with his third-place performance in the CARQUEST Auto Parts 250 at Gateway International Raceway on July 29, 2000.

* Bodine broke a 69-race winless streak with his win in the NAPAonline.com 250 at Michigan Speedway on August 19, 2000. The win was Bodine's first since he won at California in October of 1997. Bodine held off Winston Cup regulars Michael Waltrip and Jeff and Ward Burton to score the win at Michigan.

* Bodine won the pole for the Autolite Platinum 250 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8, 2000. Bodine finished the 250-lap event in fourth place.

* During the first half of the 2000 season, Bodine was riding a tidal wave of momentum as the team scored seven consecutive top 10s that included five top fives. The string of good finishes had Bodine atop the point standings after the BellSouth Mobility 320 at Nashville Speedway. A broken shock at Talladega ended the streak of finishes, knocking the Phillips 66 team from the top spot in the point standings.

* Bodine finished the 2000 season with 19 top-10 finishes - a 59 percentage rate of scoring a top 10. That improved Bodine's career top 10 percentage rate to 56 percent.

* Bodine's fourth-place finish in the driver point standings marks the seventh time he's finished the season in the top 10 in points. Bodine has finished in the top 10 in driver point standings each year he's run the full season's schedule (2000, 1999, 1996, 1991-1993).

Text Provided By Penny Copen

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.