Sponsorless Bodine Makes History in Daytona
 
Daytona’s first NCWTS repeat winner nets fourth straight restrictor plate victory


Player Management International Media Release

Daytona Beach, FL (February 15, 2009) –
Just two weeks ago, 2006 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Todd Bodine was unsure of whether to make travel arrangements for the season opening race in Daytona.  For the first time in a long time Bodine pondered his fate for the Valentine’s Day weekend, as his team was rendered sponsorless at the close of the 2008 season.  A strange irony considering Bodine recorded a win at the Homestead-Miami Speedway season finale.  

A phone call from Bob Germain changed his fortune and found the Germain Racing team arriving at Daytona International Speedway attempting to win their fourth consecutive restrictor plate Truck Series race.  The 2008 winner of the Daytona NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener would have the opportunity to etch his name in the history books.  

While most would shutter at the thought of having to race on Friday the 13th, Bodine and company welcomed the opportunity.  
“Friday the 13th is good luck for us; we’re not even supposed to be here,” Bodine said.  “We’re excited to have the opportunity to be racing this weekend and we’re going to do all we can to go win another race.  We appreciate the Germain family giving us this opportunity.”

Bodine would waste little time settling in, as his #30 Germain Racing Toyota Tundra shot straight to the top of the speed charts during the first three practice sessions of the 2009 season; he was 2nd in the first session, 1st in second session and 2nd in the final session.  Qualifying would find Bodine continuing his dominance over the 2.5-mile superspeedway, as he wheeled around the tri-oval in 51.172 seconds, which was good enough for the third starting position.  
            
When the green flag was displayed under clear Daytona skies on Friday evening, Bodine immediately took charge. While battling for the lead early in the race, Bodine was forced below the yellow line by Colin Braun, resulting in a penalty against the #30 Germain Racing Toyota.  Despite his appeals to NASCAR, Bodine was forced to suffer a pass-through penalty, which sent him down pit road at 55 miles per hour, while the balance of the field remained on the racetrack at approximately 180 miles per hour.  
            
The penalty would be of little consequence to Bodine, and serve as little consolation to the rest of the field. Once Bodine re-emerged on the racing surface, he would tour the facility at a blistering pace that would soon find him running in the Top 5.  Bodine would continue to exhibit total dominance of the field when he once again reappeared as the race leader and, in the closing laps, he would battle several trucks to hold on to the spot.  It’s a battle that Bodine would win as he held off NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sensation Kyle Busch to secure his fourth straight win on a restrictor plate track, and his 16th win in 116 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races. A crowd of almost 100,000 was on hand to witness Bodine’s prowess on NASCAR’s most storied race track.  

“I can’t thank the guys on this race team enough.  They worked so hard and gave me a great truck tonight,” the Daytona repeat winner said.  “It’s exciting to win back-to-back races; Homestead finale in 2008 and then open the 2009 season by winning our fourth straight superspeedway race. This is stuff that dreams are made of and I wish we had a sponsor to share it with.”  Bodine continued, “This Germain Racing team is a great opportunity for a sponsor.  It’s not often that a sponsor can come in and be involved with a race-winning, championship team right off the bat.  This team is a like a family and we want a sponsor to join our family and stand side by side with us as we try to win a championship, just as we did in 2006.”
 
For more information about Germain Racing, please visit www.germainracing.com