BODINE: Strong Finish Earns Another Strong Finish In Texas
11-09-2009 3:21 pm

Friday night before an excited Texas crowd, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series raced the Winstar World Casino 350. Todd Bodine drove the No. 30 Copart/PurpleHeartCars.org Tundra for Germain Racing and was looking to maintain the team’s tough reputation at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway. Bodine qualified second, took the lead early and collected his tenth top-five finish of the season.

"It was a good run for this Copart/PurpleHeartCars.org Tundra and for Germain Racing. We were free in practice and we thought we had adjusted it and got it better. It was just too free all through the race,” explained Bodine. “The pit crew did a great job tonight. We kept adjusting the truck until it was as good as it was going to get. The truck was just too free. I got behind Ron (Hornaday, Jr) and started racing him and got aero-tight and chassis-loose and it was a handful to hang onto. To come home fourth, it's not a win. It's not a third or second, it's a little disappointing."

Germain Racing has earned six victories at Texas Motor Speedway, with Bodine getting credit for five of those wins. Prior to Kyle Busch collecting the Truck Series win on Friday night, Germain Racing was the only Toyota Tundra team to have visited the Texas winner’s circle. Given those strong stats, fourth place was a tough finish to accept.

“For us, we stepped over the edge a little and got the Copart/PurpleHeartCars.org Tundra too free. It was still a good run but I'm disappointed. We wanted to get another win at Texas, but fourth is good. After the way the middle part of the season was going, to get our fourth top-five in a row, I think it shows we're back in form. We're doing things right. It's about all you can do,” said Bodine.

Bodine took the lead in Friday’s 147-lap race just after the first caution period of the night. He held the lead for 25 laps before race winner Kyle Busch moved to the front.

After 23 of 25 races, Bodine is ranked fourth in the Truck Series point standings. He has been to victory lane at both of the final two race tracks, and hopes to add another win or two to this season’s tally of two victories and one pole award before the off-season begins.