Todd Bodine is all smiles posing with his 2006 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Trophy. (David M. Vaughn Photo)

The Bodine family has been a part of the NASCAR community on a full-time basis since 1981. First on the scene was the oldest of three brothers, Geoffrey, who not only drove every lap like it was the last, but he also helped usher in performance and safety innovations that helped elongate the driving careers of many of the eras most famous names. Next on the scene was the middle brother, Brett, whose analytical mind brought along with it a college diploma and a never-say-die attitude. The last of the three brothers to reach the big time was the youngest, Todd, whose aggression - some said - often led to hurt feelings and hurt racecars but always gave people reason to talk.

After a quarter of a century at the sport's highest levels, the talk still centers around the youngest of the brothers. Only now, it is not about sponsor deals gone bad, or rides being lost, or even about who caused what incident on the racetrack. The buzz around the youngest Bodine brother centers around one word: champion.

With a season-long performance that included dominant victories in the early part of the year, amazing consistency throughout the middle of the year, and an ability to overcome problems late in the year, Bodine clinched the 2006 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship Friday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

While a persistent vibration didn't allow Bodine to get up and challenge for the win, he did exactly what he needed to do to walk away with the champion's trophy. When all he had to do was finish 28th or better, Bodine played it smart, nursing home an unruly truck to a 21st-place finish, and earned the title by 127 points over Johnny Benson.

"We've been racing for a long time," Bodine said. "It's the first time as a family we have won a championship that's this important. This is so special, you cannot imagine what this means to me. For all of my family, for everyone who has ever helped me, it's finally paid off. Thank you."

Todd Bodine celebrates as the 2006 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion with a smokey burn out at Homestead- Miami Speedway. (David M. Vaughn Photo)

Bodine intended to race the final race exactly the same as he did the previous 24 during the season: he came to win and if not, he came to finish in the top five. An uncooperative tire didn't allow that to happen, but he offered no apologies.

"Anyone that knows us knows that's not our style," Bodine said. "It's a shame we had to race that way. At the end the tire we had on were so bad I couldn't go any faster. But we did what we had to do."

While Bodine was struggling with tire issues, Johnny Benson looked to capitalize and if not snatch the title away, at least make it a closer fight. Unfortunately for Benson, his hopes went spinning away along with his truck after an incident in turn two. Rookie Chase Miller had a problem that sent his machine sliding through the infield grass. Just as Benson arrived on the scene, Miller's truck darted back up the banking and slammed into the left side of Benson's truck. Benson went for a wild spin, but recovered. Even with the damage to the left side, he charged through the field and was just outside the top ten when the left front tire went down, ending any chances he had at closing the points gap.

"We had a great year," Benson said. "Rick Ren and all my guys are fantastic. They gave me a great truck here tonight, but it just wasn't meant to be. We got caught up in something there in turn two, it looked like the 4 truck had a tire go down and he went spinning into the infield. Just as I got there, he came up and got into us. We'll keep working on it and keep the momentum we have going into 2007."

Bodine becomes the ninth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion. He won three races on his way to the title - Atlanta in March, Gateway, and Texas in June - and accumulated a total of twelve top-five and 16 top-ten finishes. In addition to earning the Bodine family its first NASCAR championship, he also gives Toyota its first NASCAR drivers championship to boot.

(David M. Vaughn Photo)

"That's really special to give Toyota their first championship," he said. "The Germain family has been associated with Toyota since 1968 so it's definitely an important thing for all of us."

Bodine, his championship-winning owners Bob, Stephen, and Rick Germain, and the Hillmans - along with the remainder of the top ten drivers - will be feted at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series awards banquet in Orlando, Florida on December 10.