Phil Bonifield
Encyclopedia
Phil Bonifield is an owner/driver in the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series
and Busch Series
. He fielded Team Racing
for six years in the Truck Series. Bonifield began his racing career in 1973, when he began competing with BMX
bicycles. Racing across the United States, he won several championships from 1979 to 1983. In 1987, he moved to go-kart
s, where he raced against Kevin Harvick
and Casey Mears
, before competing part-time in the NASCAR Elite Division Featherlite Southwest Series in 1991.
Bonifield became a driving instructor at the Buck Baker Racing School
in 1993, after he moved to the Southeast from California. Around the same time, he opened his own fabrication shop, and worked for various Winston Cup teams. In 1998, Bonifield closed his fabrication shop and began fielding entries in the Truck series. His first race as owner in a points-paying event came that season at Walt Disney World Speedway
in the #11 Red Line Oil
Chevrolet
, driven by Brett Bodine
, who qualified 13th but finished 32nd after an engine failure. Bodine ran two more races for Bonifield that season, both races resulting in DNFs.
In 1999, he decided to pull double duty as an owner and driver, with Tom Mazucchi coming aboard as a partner in the #23 Red Line Oil truck. He made his Craftsman Truck Series debut at Evergreen Speedway
, finishing 30th. Bonifield would compete 13 more times that year, and finished 31st in points, and 7th in Rookie of the Year standings.
In 2000, he ran just eight races, and did not finish a single race.
In 2001, Bonifield posted a career-best 24th twice, at California
and Las Vegas
. That same season, he began running races part-time for Impact Motorsports
, and purchased Impact's owner's points and equipment after it shut down, renaming his operation Team Racing
. He also made his Busch debut at the MBNA Platinum 200 for Jay Robinson Racing
, starting 34th but finishing 36th after engine problems plagued the team.
In 2002, mechanical problems continued to plague Bonifield and his team, as he failed to finish any of his eleven starts that season. Despite this, he finished 31st in points. He also ran six Busch races, two for his own team, one for Danny Bost, and the rest for Means Racing
. His best finish was a 30th at Fontana, the only race he finished that year. 2003 marked Bonifield's best Truck Series season, as he ran 21 of 25 races, and finished 20th in points. His best finish was 23rd at Memphis Motorsports Park
.
Unfortunately, his success was not carried over into 2004. Neither Bonifield nor his team ran many races that season. Bonifield only qualified for events, and was twice parked for driving too slow. During the season, Bonifield sold the trucks to Bill Davis Racing
and shut down the team. He and spent 2005 and 2006 developing ARCA and NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series
driver Andrew Myers. He returned to the Truck Series in 2006, fielding the #86 Chevrolet.
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...
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...
and Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
. He fielded Team Racing
Team Racing
Team Racing is a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. It is owned by driver Phil Bonifield. The team has fielded multiple trucks, usually with sponsorship from Red Line Oil and the Coverall Carports.- Truck #23 history :...
for six years in the Truck Series. Bonifield began his racing career in 1973, when he began competing with BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
bicycles. Racing across the United States, he won several championships from 1979 to 1983. In 1987, he moved to go-kart
Go-kart
thumb|A [[Kart racing|racing kart]] at the [[Commission Internationale de Karting|CIK-FIA]] European Championship 2008A go-kart is a small four-wheeled vehicle...
s, where he raced against Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
and Casey Mears
Casey Mears
Casey James Mears is the driver of the #13 GEICO Toyota for Germain Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He is a former winner of the Coca-Cola 600....
, before competing part-time in the NASCAR Elite Division Featherlite Southwest Series in 1991.
Bonifield became a driving instructor at the Buck Baker Racing School
Buck Baker Racing School
The Buck Baker Racing School was founded by two time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Buck Baker in 1980.Vehicles used in the school are actual NASCAR Nextel Cup Ford, Chevy and Dodge race cars which have previously competed in their respective series. Each car weighs approximately and includes...
in 1993, after he moved to the Southeast from California. Around the same time, he opened his own fabrication shop, and worked for various Winston Cup teams. In 1998, Bonifield closed his fabrication shop and began fielding entries in the Truck series. His first race as owner in a points-paying event came that season at Walt Disney World Speedway
Walt Disney World Speedway
Walt Disney World Speedway is a racing facility located on the grounds of the Walt Disney World resort near Orlando, Florida.It was built in 1995 by IMS Events, Inc., a subsidiary of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, and was designed primarily as a venue for the Indy 200 at Walt Disney...
in the #11 Red Line Oil
Red Line Oil
Red Line Synthetic Oil Corporation is a company that produces a full range of synthetic lubricants.-History:Red Line was founded in 1979 by Tim Kerrigan and Peter Filice in Benicia, California....
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...
, driven by 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...
, who qualified 13th but finished 32nd after an engine failure. Bodine ran two more races for Bonifield that season, both races resulting in DNFs.
In 1999, he decided to pull double duty as an owner and driver, with Tom Mazucchi coming aboard as a partner in the #23 Red Line Oil truck. He made his Craftsman Truck Series debut at Evergreen Speedway
Evergreen Speedway
Evergreen Speedway is an automobile racetrack located within the confines of the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington. The stadium can accommodate up to 7500 spectators in the covered grandstand and an additional 7500 in the uncovered modular grandstands...
, finishing 30th. Bonifield would compete 13 more times that year, and finished 31st in points, and 7th in Rookie of the Year standings.
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
In 2000, he ran just eight races, and did not finish a single race.
In 2001, Bonifield posted a career-best 24th twice, at California
California Speedway
Auto Club Speedway is a two-mile , low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. The track was also used for open wheel racing events until 2005. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and...
and Las Vegas
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
. That same season, he began running races part-time for Impact Motorsports
Impact Motorsports
Impact Motorsports is a former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. It was owned by David Hodson and Russell Kersh from 1997 until 2001, when it was sold to Phil Bonifield....
, and purchased Impact's owner's points and equipment after it shut down, renaming his operation Team Racing
Team Racing
Team Racing is a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. It is owned by driver Phil Bonifield. The team has fielded multiple trucks, usually with sponsorship from Red Line Oil and the Coverall Carports.- Truck #23 history :...
. He also made his Busch debut at the MBNA Platinum 200 for Jay Robinson Racing
Jay Robinson Racing
Jay Robinson Racing is a racing team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Currently, they field the #28 MAXelence Chevrolet Impala for Derrike Cope. Formed in 1995, they moved to the Nationwide Series in 2000, where they have attempted both full-time and part-time schedules.- Car #28...
, starting 34th but finishing 36th after engine problems plagued the team.
In 2002, mechanical problems continued to plague Bonifield and his team, as he failed to finish any of his eleven starts that season. Despite this, he finished 31st in points. He also ran six Busch races, two for his own team, one for Danny Bost, and the rest for Means Racing
Means Racing
Means Racing is a NASCAR Nationwide Series team. It is owned by former driver Jimmy Means. The team primarily runs without sponsorship, and fields the #52 Chevrolet Impala.-Busch/Nationwide Series:...
. His best finish was a 30th at Fontana, the only race he finished that year. 2003 marked Bonifield's best Truck Series season, as he ran 21 of 25 races, and finished 20th in points. His best finish was 23rd at Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
.
Unfortunately, his success was not carried over into 2004. Neither Bonifield nor his team ran many races that season. Bonifield only qualified for events, and was twice parked for driving too slow. During the season, Bonifield sold the trucks to Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing was a racing team that participated in all three of NASCAR's top divisions until 2009.The team had run Toyota-branded stock cars and trucks in both the Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series since 2007. Dodge, Ford, and Pontiac previously backed the team...
and shut down the team. He and spent 2005 and 2006 developing ARCA and NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series
NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West is a regional stock car racing division of NASCAR...
driver Andrew Myers. He returned to the Truck Series in 2006, fielding the #86 Chevrolet.