Geoff Bodine Racing
Encyclopedia
Geoff Bodine Racing is a former NASCAR
Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck Series
team. It was owned and operated by former NASCAR driver Geoffrey Bodine following his purchase of the estate of Alan Kulwicki
. He remained owner of the team until the 1998 season, when he sold the operation to Jim Mattei and John Porter. Through the chain of succession, the team is now operated by Robby Gordon
.
team in 1993. He got new sponsorship from the Family Channel
for the rest of the year, before it was replaced by Exide Batteries
in 1994. Bodine won three times that year that year but finished 17th in points. He improved one spot better in 1995, but in 1996, the sponsorship was replaced by QVC
, and scored his final win at Watkins Glen International Raceway. He struggled in 1997, failing to qualify in a couple of races, and having his brother Todd
fill in for him at the Coca-Cola 600
. Despite this, he won two poles in the last two months of the season, including one that broke the track record at Atlanta Motor Speedway
.
In 1998, he sold part of his ownership to Mattei and Porter, and picked up sponsorship from Philips
. When Bodine got an offer to drive for Joe Bessey
in 1999, he sold the rest of his team and was replaced by Michael Waltrip
, as the team switched to Chevrolet
. Finishing 5th in the Daytona 500
, Waltrip finished the year 29th in points. Getting sponsorship from NationsRent in 2000, Waltrip's only top-ten finish that year was a 3rd at Martinsville
. He left at the end of the year for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
, and Mike Wallace
took over. During the 2000 season, the team was sold to Ultra Motorsports
.
, who raced eleven times that season; together, they combined for fourteen top-ten finishes. Bodine's son Barry
drove the #07 Tanya Tucker Salsa truck at Martinsville, but he crashed out. Rezendes raced the #7 full-time in 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with QVC sponsoring, and he responded with three victories and a sixth place finish in points. Bodine and Barry drove the 07 in six races, but only had one pole and top-ten.
Due to a lack of sponsorship, Rezendes was let go after two races in 1997. Tammy Jo Kirk
took his place with Loveable sponsorship, becoming the first full-time female driver on the circuit. She had a best finish of 11th, but was let go late in the season, and Barry Bodine finished out the season. The team closed in 1998 due to a lack of sponsorship.
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...
Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
team. It was owned and operated by former NASCAR driver Geoffrey Bodine following his purchase of the estate of Alan Kulwicki
Alan Kulwicki
Alan Dennis Kulwicki , nicknamed "Special K" and the "Polish Prince", was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series racecar driver. He started racing at local short tracks in Wisconsin before moving up to regional stock car touring series...
. He remained owner of the team until the 1998 season, when he sold the operation to Jim Mattei and John Porter. Through the chain of succession, the team is now operated by Robby Gordon
Robby Gordon
Robert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
.
Winston Cup
Bodine purchased the former AK RacingAK Racing
AK Racing is a former NASCAR Winston Cup Series team. It was originally owned by Bill Terry before he sold it to rookie driver Alan Kulwicki, who controlled and raced for the team until his death in 1993. Kulwicki won five races as an owner-driver...
team in 1993. He got new sponsorship from the Family Channel
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
for the rest of the year, before it was replaced by Exide Batteries
Exide Batteries
Exide Technologies is the world's second-largest producer of automotive lead acid batteries for automotive and industrial applications. The Company’s four global business groups – Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Power Americas and Industrial Power Europe...
in 1994. Bodine won three times that year that year but finished 17th in points. He improved one spot better in 1995, but in 1996, the sponsorship was replaced by QVC
QVC
QVC is a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, United States, QVC broadcasts in five countries as QVC US, QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC Japan and – QVC Italy to 200 million households...
, and scored his final win at Watkins Glen International Raceway. He struggled in 1997, failing to qualify in a couple of races, and having his brother Todd
Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine is a NASCAR driver. Todd is the younger brother of former racers Geoff Bodine and Brett Bodine. Bodine is known for his bald head, which has given him the nickname The Onion...
fill in for him at the Coca-Cola 600
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
. Despite this, he won two poles in the last two months of the season, including one that broke the track record at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
.
In 1998, he sold part of his ownership to Mattei and Porter, and picked up sponsorship from Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
. When Bodine got an offer to drive for Joe Bessey
Joe Bessey
Joe Bessey is a former NASCAR owner/driver. He won one career Busch Series race before heading back to the Busch Grand National North Series in 2001, where he continues to field teams. In his driving career in that series in the mid-1990s, when he won 21 races and won two championships...
in 1999, he sold the rest of his team and was replaced by Michael Waltrip
Michael Waltrip
Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
, as the team switched to Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
. Finishing 5th in the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, Waltrip finished the year 29th in points. Getting sponsorship from NationsRent in 2000, Waltrip's only top-ten finish that year was a 3rd at Martinsville
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
. He left at the end of the year for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. was a NASCAR-related organization located in Mooresville, North Carolina, United States working to continue the legacy of Dale Earnhardt. It was originally formed in 1980 by seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt who died in a crash on the closing lap of the 2001...
, and Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (NASCAR)
Mike Wallace is a NASCAR race car driver born in Fenton, Missouri. He currently drives the #01 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. He is a younger brother to Rusty Wallace, older brother to Kenny Wallace, and uncle to Steve Wallace...
took over. During the 2000 season, the team was sold to Ultra Motorsports
Ultra Motorsports
Ultra Motorsports was a NASCAR Winston Cup & Craftsman Truck Series racing team. Jim Smith helped start the team and the Craftsman Truck Series. It ran full time in the Craftsman Truck Series from 1994 to 2005, earning many wins and a 2005 championship with Ted Musgrave...
.
Craftsman Truck Series
Bodine Racing began racing in the new Truck Series in 1995, when Bodine drove ten races in the #7, with Exide sponsorship. He shared the ride with Dave RezendesDave Rezendes
Dave Rezendes is a former NASCAR driver. He competed in the Busch Series from 1988 until 1994. He joined NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series in its first season in 1995. Rezendes had his best season in 1996, when he won his only three races and finished sixth in the series points...
, who raced eleven times that season; together, they combined for fourteen top-ten finishes. Bodine's son Barry
Barry Bodine
Barry Bodine is a former NASCAR driver. He is the son of Geoffrey Bodine, and the nephew of Todd and Brett Bodine.-Busch Series Career:...
drove the #07 Tanya Tucker Salsa truck at Martinsville, but he crashed out. Rezendes raced the #7 full-time in 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with QVC sponsoring, and he responded with three victories and a sixth place finish in points. Bodine and Barry drove the 07 in six races, but only had one pole and top-ten.
Due to a lack of sponsorship, Rezendes was let go after two races in 1997. Tammy Jo Kirk
Tammy Jo Kirk
Tammy Jo Kirk is a racecar and motorcycle racer. She was the first woman to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and later returned to NASCAR to run the Busch Series. She has not driven in NASCAR since 2003....
took his place with Loveable sponsorship, becoming the first full-time female driver on the circuit. She had a best finish of 11th, but was let go late in the season, and Barry Bodine finished out the season. The team closed in 1998 due to a lack of sponsorship.