Ronda Greer Photo

Todd Bodine returned to familiar ground as he took his No. 30 Germain Motor Co./Racers Edge/Toyota Tundra to victory lane this past Friday by winning the Silverado 350 at Texas Motor Speedway in typical Todd Bodine fashion. He grabbed his seconded consecutive fall checkered flag in front of an estimated crowd of 70,000 at Texas Motor Speedway by passing pole sitter Mike Skinner with 23-laps to go. Even a late race caution couldn't stop Todd as he drove away from the field on the last restart of the race to win by a margin of 1.162 seconds.

The No. 30 Germain Motor Co./Racers Edge/Toyota Tundra was pretty stout all weekend long. In Thursday's first practice session Todd was the fourth fastest truck in the first practice session of the day. His best time of the session was a 29.77/181.33mph. In the final practice session of the day the team made some adjustments to the No. 30 Germain Motor Co./Racers Edge/Toyota Tundra as they ended the session with the ninth fastest truck. Todd's best time of the final session was a 29.66/182.02mph. His time would improve for Thursday nights qualifying effort as he ran a 29.61/182.31mph putting him in the eighth starting spot for Friday nights Silverado 350.

When the green flag flew for the start of the Silverado 350, it did not take Todd long to work his way up to the front of the field as he made his way to fifth spot by lap-22. However a short in his radio would make it hard for him to hear crew chief Mike Hillman, Jr. and his spotter for the entire race. On lap-37 Todd had passed the No. 22 of Bill Lester for third. On lap-40 the second caution flag of the race came out for debris. Todd came into the pits for four tires, a wedge adjustment, fuel, and the Germain Motor Co. Toyota crew tried to fix Todd's radio problem but had no luck. Todd was now in third place when the field went back to green flag action.  On lap-45 Todd would fall back to fourth but made his way back to third on lap-46. By lap-55 Todd made his way to second and had eyes set on race leader Johnny Benson. Then the third caution of the race came out on lap-61 as the No. 63 of Justin Allgaier spun out on the front stretch. Todd would come in the pits under the yellow for four tires, one turn of wedge and fuel. He would restart the race in the fifth spot on lap-67.

It would not take Todd long to make his way back to third as he passed the No. 17 of David Reutumann on lap-78. The caution flew for the fourth time of the race on lap-86 as the No. 47 of Aric Almirola wrecked on the backstretch. Todd came in the pits under the yellow for four tires, and a wedge adjustment. On lap-90 the field went back to green flag action as Todd started sixth. On lap-97 the caution flag came out for the fourth time, when the No.06 of Regan Smith wrecked in turn-two. Crew chief Mike Hillman, Jr. decided to stay out. When the field went back to green flag action on lap-102 Todd found himself in the fourth spot. On lap-107 Todd passed the No. 10 of Terry Cook for third. Than on Lap-118 he passed the No. 15 of Kyle Busch for second. With 23-laps to go Todd made his move for the lead, passing pole sitter Mike Skinner. Todd would soon start to drive away from the field as he used lap traffic to his advantage. By lap-131 Todd had gained a half a straightaway lead from Skinner and the rest of the field. Then on lap-134 the caution flag came out for the fifth and final time of race as fluid on the track brought the caution out. When the green flag flew on lap-138 Todd was long gone as he drive away from the field bringing his No. 30 Germain Motor Co./Racers Edge/ Toyota Tundra home to victory lane for the third time in 2005 while defending his 2004 win at Texas Motor Speedway. Todd led a total of 23-laps to the checkered flag.

Todd's win at Texas Motor Speedway earned him his fifth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in 38 races. He passed Ron Hornaday, Jr. for the third spot in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point's chase. Todd now trails Dennis Setzer by just 63-points for second and is only 192-points away from points leader Ted Musgrave with two races left in the season.

Post Race Texas Awards
Crew Chief Mike Hillman, Jr. picked up the International Truck Crew Chief Award at Texas. It is Mikes fifth International Truck Crew Chief Award of the 2005 season.

Todd won the Sunoco Diamond Performance Award.

Todd Post Race Quotes Texas Motor Speedway Silverado 350

"Our Tundra was awesome," said Todd Bodine. "This truck was just incredible. We struggled a little bit in the beginning. But Mike Hillman, Jr. and this No. 30 Germain Racing/Racers Edge/Toyota Tundra crew made all the right adjustments. At the end of the race this truck was the best. Our Tundra drove great and it was fast all race long. I didn't have to let off the throttle. I knew it was going to be tough to pass Kyle but he made it easy for me when he hit the wall. Mike and I have a mutual respect for one another. I finished second to him twice this season and know he has finished second to me once. Mike tried to catch me but we were able to drive away at the end. It was just a great race for entire Germain Racing Team."