Brett Bodine Racing
Encyclopedia
Brett Bodine Racing was a NASCAR
racing team from 1996 until 2003. It was owned by former NASCAR driver Brett Bodine
and his wife of 23 years Diane Bodine (they divorced in 2003). The Bodines purchased the team Brett had driven for in 1995
following that season from Junior Johnson
. The team always struggled with the on-going battle to secure consistent sponsorship until 2003 until a lack of funding forced the team to close following the season.
sponsorship and drove the car again with Lowes sponsorship in 1996 as an owner/driver. Brett's team struggled with consistency that season but they did manage to finish 24th in the points standings, with one top ten. However, at the conclusion of the season Lowe's chose not to return and instead moved to sponsor the new #31 car at Richard Childress Racing
.
1997
saw Brett sign a long term sponsorship deal that would put Close Call Phone Cards on the car. The season started off well with Bodine consistently running competitively, including two top ten finishes in the first 9 races. However, just half-way into the season Close-Call stopped paying its sponsorship bills and Brett was forced to strip the decals off of his car. The car ran unsponsored for the remainder of the season and the sudden financial crunch was easily visible in the car's performance, and Bodine was forced to sell part of the team to Andy Evans
, although he later re-acquired full interest. Bodine later accused Evans of trying to steal his team.
1998
and 1999
found Bodine with reliable sponsorship from Paychex
on his new Ford Taurus
. He found modest success in 1998 finishing 25th overall in points, despite failing to finish in the top ten all season. He did, however, manage to finish in the top 20 on eleven occasions.
After 1998, Bodine struggled in 1999. He was only able to muster a 35th place effort in the final standing again with no top tens, but this time, only four top 20s. The #11 team also failed to qualify for 2 events and Paychex chose not to return at the end of the season.
Without a sponsor having been found Brett sold half-interest in his team once again, this time to Richard Hilton
. As part of the deal Ralphs
would come on as the primary sponsor. Although the sale of the team fell through Brett was able to retain the Ralphs sponsorship. However, all of the late deal making left Brett Bodine racing behind. This showed of they again struggled to 35th place in the final points standings with no top tens and just 5 top twenties while failing to qualify for five races.
Even with their struggles Ralphs came back to the team in 2001 as the primary sponsor and Brett signed RedCell Batteries as an associate, and the team received engines from Robert Yates Racing. But another blow to the organization RedCell stopped paying its dues midseason, and the team once again was forced to go without strong backing. They were able to work through these troubles and had a very successful season that looked to move them in a very positive direction. They made every race, finished in the top ten twice, the top twenty nine times, and moved up five spots to 30th in the owner's standings.
Despite the team's success in 2001
a primary sponsor was not forthcoming for 2002. Brett entered the season with just the associates Timberland Pro and Wells Fargo Financial
. Dura Lube
came on to help out early in the season until Brett picked up Hooters
sponsorship for the 4th race of the season. Still, the team was in an all too familiar situation at the start of the 2002
season; they were way behind in all aspects due to securing sponsorship so late in the season. Brett mandged no top tens, only 4 top 20s, and 36th in the final standings while missing four races.
Hooters came back in 2003
, but with far less money. The team scaled back to only a limited schedule. Geoffrey Bodine drove the car in the Bud Shootout at Daytona and Brett ran 5 early season races before Hooters pulled the plug, leaving the team with no sponsor. To compound problems, that same weekend in practice Brett was involved in a horrifying crash that sidelined him for several weeks. His brother Geoffery drove the #11 Brett Bodine Racing Ford, for his injured brother, in its final race finishing 39th. With no major sponsorship for his team and most of his employees laid off, Brett attempted to run at Indy in a fan sponsored "Brick Car" where, for $500, fans would get their name on the car. The program was a success, but Brett failed to qualify for the race by .001 seconds. Rumors of a sponsor for 2004 and beyond surfaced, but nothing panned out and the team was sold.
and Homestead
with sponsorship from Smirnoff Ice and Miccosukee Casino, respectively. Bodine finished 27th at Bristol and 37th at Homestead. The team was to continue to run a limited schedule in 2002 but was never able to find a primary sponsor. The #09 Brett Bodine Racing Fords never returned to the track, with the team number being reassigned to Phoenix Racing
.
had a small sponsorship deal with independent driver Kirk Shelmerdine
. When Hooters signed on to sponsor the Brett Bodine Racing team, part of the deal involved Brett was to run Kirk in a couple of races in the #27 sponsored by Naturally Fresh Foods. However, this quickly came to end when Kirk was unable to make a race, and the drivers went their own ways.
, a relative of Brett's, behind the wheel. The cars number was 06. In 2002 the cars number was changed to 11 and Brett was able to field Josh in seven races. The car was unsponsored in two events, sponsored by Smuckers in one event and by one of Brett's cup sponsors, Timberland Pro, in the other 4 events. 28th was the best ever finish by this car, achieved in its final start at Richmond in 2002. The team did not have the financial means to run a Busch Series operation in 2003.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racing team from 1996 until 2003. It was owned by former NASCAR driver Brett Bodine
Brett Bodine
Brett Bodine is a former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and is the current driver of the pace car in Sprint Cup events. Brett is the younger brother of 1986 Daytona 500 winner Geoff Bodine and the older brother of 2006 Craftsman Truck Series champion Todd Bodine...
and his wife of 23 years Diane Bodine (they divorced in 2003). The Bodines purchased the team Brett had driven for in 1995
1995 in NASCAR
The 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on February 12 and concluded November 12. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports won his first career championship.- Overview :...
following that season from Junior Johnson
Junior Johnson
Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966...
. The team always struggled with the on-going battle to secure consistent sponsorship until 2003 until a lack of funding forced the team to close following the season.
Car #11 History
Brett Bodine drove the 11 car for Junior Johnson in 1995 with Lowe'sLowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
sponsorship and drove the car again with Lowes sponsorship in 1996 as an owner/driver. Brett's team struggled with consistency that season but they did manage to finish 24th in the points standings, with one top ten. However, at the conclusion of the season Lowe's chose not to return and instead moved to sponsor the new #31 car at Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing
RCR Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Richard Childress Racing, is a NASCAR team based in Welcome, North Carolina, and is owned and operated by former driver Richard Childress...
.
1997
1997 in NASCAR
- 1997 Team Chart :- Busch Clash :The Busch Clash, a race for polewinners from the previous season, and drivers who have won the event before, was run on February 9 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Terry Labonte drew the pole...
saw Brett sign a long term sponsorship deal that would put Close Call Phone Cards on the car. The season started off well with Bodine consistently running competitively, including two top ten finishes in the first 9 races. However, just half-way into the season Close-Call stopped paying its sponsorship bills and Brett was forced to strip the decals off of his car. The car ran unsponsored for the remainder of the season and the sudden financial crunch was easily visible in the car's performance, and Bodine was forced to sell part of the team to Andy Evans
Andy Evans
David Andrew "Andy" Evans , is Welsh former professional footballer who currently plays for Welsh Premier League side Carmarthen Town....
, although he later re-acquired full interest. Bodine later accused Evans of trying to steal his team.
1998
1998 in NASCAR
See Also: 1998 in NASCAR Busch Series-1998 Team Chart:-Bud Shootout Qualifier:The Bud Shootout Qualifier, a race for the fastest second round qualifier, from each race from the previous season, was run on February 8 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sterling Marlin drew the pole...
and 1999
1999 in NASCAR
The 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 7 and ended on Sunday November 21. Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett was crowned the champion...
found Bodine with reliable sponsorship from Paychex
Paychex
Paychex, Inc. is a payroll and human resource service company which serves approximately 572,000 businesses in the US. The company is headquartered in Penfield, New York and has more than 100 locations across the country...
on his new Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
. He found modest success in 1998 finishing 25th overall in points, despite failing to finish in the top ten all season. He did, however, manage to finish in the top 20 on eleven occasions.
After 1998, Bodine struggled in 1999. He was only able to muster a 35th place effort in the final standing again with no top tens, but this time, only four top 20s. The #11 team also failed to qualify for 2 events and Paychex chose not to return at the end of the season.
Without a sponsor having been found Brett sold half-interest in his team once again, this time to Richard Hilton
Richard Hilton
Richard Howard "Rick" Hilton is an American entrepreneur and hotelier. He is the Chairman and co-founder of Hilton & Hyland, a real estate brokerages firm based in Beverly Hills that specializes in homes and estates in Beverly Hills, Holmby Hills, Bel-Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and...
. As part of the deal Ralphs
Ralphs
Ralphs is a major supermarket chain in the Southern California area and the largest subsidiary of Cincinnati-based Kroger. It is the oldest such chain west of the Mississippi River. Ralphs also operates stores under the Food 4 Less and Foods Co. names in California.-History:Ralphs Grocery Company...
would come on as the primary sponsor. Although the sale of the team fell through Brett was able to retain the Ralphs sponsorship. However, all of the late deal making left Brett Bodine racing behind. This showed of they again struggled to 35th place in the final points standings with no top tens and just 5 top twenties while failing to qualify for five races.
Even with their struggles Ralphs came back to the team in 2001 as the primary sponsor and Brett signed RedCell Batteries as an associate, and the team received engines from Robert Yates Racing. But another blow to the organization RedCell stopped paying its dues midseason, and the team once again was forced to go without strong backing. They were able to work through these troubles and had a very successful season that looked to move them in a very positive direction. They made every race, finished in the top ten twice, the top twenty nine times, and moved up five spots to 30th in the owner's standings.
Despite the team's success in 2001
2001 in NASCAR
The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on February 11 at the Daytona International Speedway and ended on November 23 at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports was crowned series champion for the fourth time in seven years. The season was marked by tragedy,...
a primary sponsor was not forthcoming for 2002. Brett entered the season with just the associates Timberland Pro and Wells Fargo Financial
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
. Dura Lube
Dura lube
The Dura Lube Corporation was formed in 1986, originally concentrating on producing engine treatment products for trucks. It later extended its product line to include cars.-Controversy:...
came on to help out early in the season until Brett picked up Hooters
Hooters
Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Incorporated, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Incorporated, based in Clearwater, Florida...
sponsorship for the 4th race of the season. Still, the team was in an all too familiar situation at the start of the 2002
2002 in NASCAR
The 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday, February 10, and ended on Sunday, November 17. Tony Stewart with Joe Gibbs Racing was crowned the Winston Cup champion. The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship was captured by Ford after winning 14 events, and gaining 245 points over second place...
season; they were way behind in all aspects due to securing sponsorship so late in the season. Brett mandged no top tens, only 4 top 20s, and 36th in the final standings while missing four races.
Hooters came back in 2003
2003 in NASCAR
The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday February 8 and ended on Sunday November 16. Matt Kenseth with Roush Racing driving a Ford was crowned the Winston Cup champion, despite winning only one race all year. Chevrolet took home the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship after capturing 19 wins...
, but with far less money. The team scaled back to only a limited schedule. Geoffrey Bodine drove the car in the Bud Shootout at Daytona and Brett ran 5 early season races before Hooters pulled the plug, leaving the team with no sponsor. To compound problems, that same weekend in practice Brett was involved in a horrifying crash that sidelined him for several weeks. His brother Geoffery drove the #11 Brett Bodine Racing Ford, for his injured brother, in its final race finishing 39th. With no major sponsorship for his team and most of his employees laid off, Brett attempted to run at Indy in a fan sponsored "Brick Car" where, for $500, fans would get their name on the car. The program was a success, but Brett failed to qualify for the race by .001 seconds. Rumors of a sponsor for 2004 and beyond surfaced, but nothing panned out and the team was sold.
Car #09 History
2001 saw Brett Bodine Racing expand to a two car team for two races. Driven by the #11's car success Brett was able to field a second car, driven by brother Geoffrey, at both BristolBristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
and Homestead
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
with sponsorship from Smirnoff Ice and Miccosukee Casino, respectively. Bodine finished 27th at Bristol and 37th at Homestead. The team was to continue to run a limited schedule in 2002 but was never able to find a primary sponsor. The #09 Brett Bodine Racing Fords never returned to the track, with the team number being reassigned to Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing is a NASCAR team owned by James Finch. It currently fields the #51 Chevrolet Impala in the Sprint Cup Series driven by Landon Cassill and the #1 Chevrolet Impala in the Nationwide Series driven by Landon Cassill and Jamie McMurray....
.
Car #27 History
In 2002 HootersHooters
Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Incorporated, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Incorporated, based in Clearwater, Florida...
had a small sponsorship deal with independent driver Kirk Shelmerdine
Kirk Shelmerdine
Kirk Shelmerdine is a NASCAR driver and former championship-winning crew chief for the late Dale Earnhardt.-Crew chief:...
. When Hooters signed on to sponsor the Brett Bodine Racing team, part of the deal involved Brett was to run Kirk in a couple of races in the #27 sponsored by Naturally Fresh Foods. However, this quickly came to end when Kirk was unable to make a race, and the drivers went their own ways.
Car #11 History
This car made its debut at Richmond in 2001 with Josh RichesonJosh Richeson
Josh Richeson, is a stock car driver. He has made 23 career starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series series and one Craftsman Truck Series start. He is the nephew of former Sprint Cup Series driver Brett Bodine.Richeson made his Nationwide Series debut at Richmond International Raceway in September...
, a relative of Brett's, behind the wheel. The cars number was 06. In 2002 the cars number was changed to 11 and Brett was able to field Josh in seven races. The car was unsponsored in two events, sponsored by Smuckers in one event and by one of Brett's cup sponsors, Timberland Pro, in the other 4 events. 28th was the best ever finish by this car, achieved in its final start at Richmond in 2002. The team did not have the financial means to run a Busch Series operation in 2003.