Gunselman managing #37 team: From the Front Row Motorsports Facebook page, "The #37 car is now managed by Larry Gunselman in a partnership between Front Row Motorsports and Larry's Max Q Motorsports team. The team will have a more formal announcement coming with more information about plans moving forward."(3-25-2011)
Cope to run Bud Shootout UPDATE images: 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope will be running the 2011 Budweiser Shootout in the # 64 Toyota Camry for Larry Gunselman of MaxQ Motorsports. Cope says he hopes to have a sponsor for the race and announce it soon. Cope's plans for the Daytona 500 are still up-in-the air.(Derrike Cope site)(2-7-2011)
UPDATE: Gold Eagle Company sponsors Derrike Cope and Larry Gunselman Racing for the "Budweiser Shootout" February 12, at Daytona Int'l Speedway. Gold Eagle Company, an innovative marketer and manufacturer of leading automotive related brands will feature "Start Your Engines Fuel System Revitalizer" and the NEW "Sta-Bil Ethanol... Fuel Stabilizer and Performance Improver".(Derrike Cope Facebook), see images of the car on the #64 Team Schemes page.(2-10-2011)
Todd Bodine to run three races at Daytona: Todd Bodine will compete in all three NASCAR divisions in next month's Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. Bodine will race his championship-winning #30 in the Feb. 18 Truck race; the Nationwide [#15] car, which is locked into the field for the Feb. 19 season opener thanks to Michael Annett's 14th-place finish in the 2010 owners' points; and owner Larry Gunselman's #64, which has a technical alliance with the Germains, in the qualifying rounds for the 53rd Daytona 500. Bodine will spend the first day of next week's three-day Sprint Cup test at Daytona. Bodine said there was sponsorship in place for all three programs, which has yet to be announced. Bodine tested with Gunselman's team for two days last month at Goodyear's tire test and said "we're going to race the whole race."(NASCAR.com)(1-13-2011)
#64 team gets sponsors for Homestead: Empire Steel Buildings Founder and President Michael Beeler reports a great response from their involvement in last week's program at Phoenix International Raceway. "We were represented well in the race and by all the people at MaxQ Motorsports. We look forward in being involved with the #64 Team in the Homestead-Miami Championship weekend."
AND Dinar Global, “A Better Future” based in Stuart, Florida, joins the #64 NASCAR Sprint Cup team in the Homestead-Miami Championship weekend. DinarGlobal.com is the only Iraqi Dinar Direct Selling Company in United States and Puerto Rico just launched Monday, November 15, 2010.(Hufco Pro Motion PR)(11-20-2010)
#64 team gets sponsor for Phoenix: Empire Steel Buildings will sponsor the #64 Team at this weekend’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Empire Steel Building’s founder and president Michael Beeler, understands the scope of being in front of Millions of the most dedicated sports fans in the country and looks forward to showcase his company in this major national sporting event with Landon Cassill and the #64 Max Q Motorsports Toyota of Larry Gunselman. “There is a definite connection with our company and this sport in being ultra competitive and quality oriented”.(Hufco Pro Motion PR)(11-11-2010)
#2 Team caught with an extra set of tires UPDATE 2: The #2 Penske Racing team of Kurt Busch, was accused of harboring an extra set of tires acquired from the #64 Gunselman Motorsports team. Crew chief Steve Addington called situation "a miscommunication with NASCAR." Addington was attempting to make a qualifying run with a pair of scuffed left tires and fresh "sticker" tires on the right. For his effort, driver Kurt Busch posted the 12th fastest lap with a speed of 132.864 mph. "It was a mix-up and we got penalized for it," said Addington who will lose a set of tires for Saturday's two practice sessions. The #2 Dodge will have to run both sessions with just two sets of tires. Teams are allowed six set of tires for practice and qualifying at New Hampshire. Addington will retain all eight sets of his tires for the Sylvania 300. When NASCAR was asked about the situation, Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said the sanctioning body "won't know (of any repercussions) for sure until the end of the second practice tomorrow."(FoxSports)(9-17-2010)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials said that no determination of a penalty will be made until the sanctioning body goes through the tire inventories of both teams. If a penalty is forthcoming, it will be imposed Saturday morning before practice starts. Each Sprint Cup team is allowed an aggregate six sets of tires at New Hampshire for three practice sessions and qualifying. The allocation for Sunday's Sylvania 300 Cup race is eight sets of tires and would be unaffected by any penalty (Sporting News)(9-18-2010)
UPDATE2: NASCAR held Kurt Busch on pit road for the first 15 minutes of Saturday's practice as punishment for being caught with an extra set of tires. Busch had to sit inside his #2 Miler Lite Dodge as cars zoomed around him during the first practice session. A NASCAR official stood in front of his car to signify he was being held. Behind his Dodge was the car of #64-Gunselman Motorsports, with driver Landon Cassill in the car. That team was also punished because it was their tires that Penske Racing was found to have on Friday.
NASCAR allows teams to use six sets of tires for practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday. Penske had the option of swapping its assigned six sets with other teams through Goodyear, and Busch's team apparently didn't turn a set in when it was given Gunselman's tires. That pushed their inventory to an illegal seven sets. NASCAR on Saturday stripped Busch's team of a set as further penalty, leaving him with five sets of tires for use over the two practice sessions. "The tire transfer wasn't done correctly," Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said, adding that Busch will be allowed the full allotment of eight sets for Sunday's opening race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Busch crew chief Steve Addington said his team did not use the seventh set of tires Friday, and its mistake was not giving Gunselman's team a set during practice.(Associated Press)(9-18-2010)
#64 team back in 2010: looks like Gunselman Motorsports, #64 Sprint Cup team, will return in 2010, running Ford instead of Toyota. The Gunselman Motorsports website says they "are working diligently to secure sponsorship and new alliances that will allow our team to compete in all 36 races in 2010," with an image of a #64 Ford on their sponsorship page.(1-18-2010)
Air Combat featured on the #64 at Pocono: Air Combat, is listed as one of the two sponsors of the #64 Gunselman Motorsports Toyota that Mike Wallace will drive in the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway, along with Fred's Hometown Discount Stores, a discount store chain located in 15 states throughout the Southeast. Air Combat USA is the original civilian dog fighting school in the world. Their guest pilots fly real military fighters with licensed fighter pilots in the cockpit with them. All aircraft are outfitted with high-end digital multi-camera systems to capture your fighter pilot experience. No pilot’s license is required for the guest. Fans can register at gunselmanmotorsports.com to win an Air Combat Mission [deadline is August 7th].(Gunselman Motorsports)(8-2-2009)
- Gunselman Motorsports picks up sponsor for Daytona: Gunselman Motorsports has secured a major sponsor with Fred's Hometown Discount Stores for this weekend's Coke Zero 400 in Daytona. The Fred's Inc. logo will adorn the hood and quarter panels of Mike Wallace's #64 Toyota. "Decals are being applied at this very moment and our team is very excited to have Fred's back on the car, this time, as a major sponsor and partner," said Larry Gunselman.(Gunselman Motorsports PR)(7-2-2009)
- Mayfield wins injunction: UPDATE 2: Independence Day came a few days early for suspended Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield, as a federal judge granted him a temporary injunction allowing him to race this weekend. The ruling, made Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Charlotte by senior Judge Graham Mullen, lifted his suspension for failing NASCAR's substance abuse policy and allows him to return as the driver/owner of his #41 team in time for Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway. Mullen said in granting the injunction that the irreparable harm appeared to be greater for Mayfield than NASCAR.(ESPN.com)(7-1-2009)
UPDATE: NASCAR chairman Brian France said the organization has no immediate plans to file an appeal, but he didn't rule it out. "We are disappointed, but we respect the judge's ruling," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said in a statement. "This is only a temporary injunction. The legal case continues beyond this point, and we will continue to make our case." (Associated Press)(7-1-2009)
UPDATE 2: ESPN's David Newton reported on Wednesday's NASCAR Now that Mayfield probably does not have time to get his #41 team down to Daytona for this week's race, but that he could be in the #64 for Larry Gunselman.(7-1-2009)
- #64 team withdraws been told the #64 Gunselman Motorposrts Toyota team that Mike Wallace drives for, withdrew from the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway allowing the #78 Furniture Row Racing team and driver Regan Smith to make the race. The #78 had 8 attempts, while the #64 team had 11.(6-26-2009)
- Gunselman Motorsports taps Mike Wallace for Pocono race: Gunselman Motorsports has called upon veteran driver Mike Wallace to drive the #64 Toyota for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. Wallace has gone to victory lane three times at the 2.5-mile track in ARCA competition. Being without a full-time ride right now, the St. Louis-native is making his second Sprint Cup points-race attempt of the year. The underfunded team has gone to a reduced schedule to concentrate on making races and returning to full-time competition. Larry Gunselman, team owner: “I am glad Mike Wallace was able to come on board the No. 64 Toyota team this week for Pocono. He’s been around long enough to know what it takes to make these races. Doug (Richert, crew chief) and the guys are looking forward to working with someone of his knowledge and experience. “If he can help us get better and return to our goals of becoming a full-time team, then all the better. It helps he’s been to victory lane at Pocono a few times in ARCA cars and has a pretty good record in Cup cars, too. Todd and Geoff Bodine have both been very helpful to this point and I hope we can build on what they started with Mike this week.”
Mike Wallace, driver: “Larry and the rest of the Gunselman Motorsports group are a young team trying to find a foundation to build on. They’ve showed up and attempted most of the races, but like a lot of teams starting out they’ve had some rough times. As far as I’m concerned, that just makes them hungrier and more determined to make races. I like that in a team. I’m fortunate they’ve given me this opportunity to work with them and looking forward to seeing how we can both help each other out.”(Gunselman Motorsports)(6-2-2009)
- Gunselman Motorsports parts ways with Bodine, withdraws from Dover: Gunselman Motorsports and driver Todd Bodine have parted ways so Bodine can concentrate on his championship efforts in the Camping World Truck Series. As a result, team owner Larry Gunselman is searching for a qualified driver who can possibly bring some sponsorship support to the #64 Toyota team’s efforts. He has been talking to several drivers, but no firm terms have been reached with anyone at this time. The team withdrew from the Dover race to concentrate on future events. Doug Richert, a NASCAR Champion crew chief, remains with the team in building, setting up and calling the shots atop the pit box. Larry Gunselman, team owner: “First, I want to thank Todd Bodine for his efforts in what we’ve been trying to do here at Gunselman Motorsports. He is a NASCAR championship driver and brought a lot to the team. Second, I totally appreciate him wanting to concentrate on his Truck Series efforts and hope he gets back up to the top of the points chart. I have all the faith in the world he can do it, too. Having someone like Doug (Richert, crew chief) with the team is a great value to me and whoever comes on board with Gunselman Motorports. We both remain very focused on being a part of this sport for quite awhile. As far as who is going to drive the #64 next; that’s something I’ve been talking to a few drivers about already. Nothing is solid as of this moment, but I know one thing for sure – we are committed to getting back on the track to achieve our goal of becoming a competitive team. Our search for a sponsorship partner is still ongoing and we remain a very affordable alternative to someone wanting to get involved in NASCAR racing.”(Gunselman Motorsports)(5-29-2009)
- Geoff Bodine Memorabilia Sale and Auction: 19 Sprint Cup Race Winner and 1986 Daytona 500 winner Geoff Bodine has announced plans for a Memorabilia Sale and Auction at his shop, located at 18605 Northline Dr, Cornelius, NC 28031, for the week of May 18th - 22nd [the week between the All-Star race and Coke 600 at LMS]. Items available include trophies, clocks, plaques, photos, posters and numerous mementos from his illustrious racing career. The sale will be open from 9:00am - 6:00pm, Monday May 18th through Friday May 22nd. On Friday evening, beginning at 7 pm, an auction of special items is planned. There is no list of items being offered. More info at geoffbodinefanclub.com. Bodine is also racing in the ASA-Sanctioned ISCARS Dash Touring Series season-opener at Lonesome Pine Raceway, Coeburn, VA, on Saturday, May 9th.
AND two new additions among many at Memory Lane Auto Museum in Mooresville NC is what is left of the #15 Truck that Bodine wrecked in a vicious crash during the Truck Series race at Daytona in February of 2000 and the museum also has one of Bodine's Bo-Dyn Bobsleds on display.(5-7-2009)
UPDATE: see an article about the sale and auction at the Charlotte Observer.(5-22-2009)
- Gunselman Motorsports return to action at Richmond: After taking a one-race hiatus to concentrate their efforts on upcoming races; #64-Gunselman Motorsports is ready to get back to business this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. Team owner Larry Gunselman and the Gunselman Group mutually decided to forego the Talladega Superspeedway race last week. Because the team is still searching for full time or one-race partnerships, the need to race smarter with what they have keeps things in check with pre-season plans. So, the plan to concentrate on the Richmond, Darlington and Charlotte races is being carried out with great attention to detail. The team feels their strengths are in their short-track program, which will be put to use with Todd Bodine driving the #64 Toyota at the .75-mile oval of Richmond this weekend. The team will be using Chassis No. 15, last used at Phoenix International Raceway that failed to make the race by a mere 1/10th of a second.(Gunselman Motorsports PR)(4-29-2009)
- #64 car withdraws UPDATE: no reason given, but the NASCAR Talladega Entry list now shows the #64 Gunselman Motorsports entry that Geoff Bodine was to drive at Talladega, as withdrawn. See the entry list on my
- Talladega Entry List page.
UPDATE: After much thought, team owner Larry Gunselman has decided to withdraw the #64 Gunselman Motorsports Toyota from this weekend’s Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Because of the financial demands required to get a competitive restrictor-plate motor for Talladega, Gunselman decided to focus the team’s limited finances and instead put forth their fiscal and physical energy towards the next three races. After this weekend, the Sprint Cup Series visits Richmond, Darlington and Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
The unsponsored team already has two engines for those tracks ensuring they will enter those races; but couldn’t afford to rent a plate motor for Talladega. “I hate, and I mean HATE, that we will not be in Talladega this weekend,” Gunselman said. “This wasn’t an easy decision by no means as we were hoping to have some kind of partnership on the car by now through our earlier efforts. I’m disappointed for myself, the team and Geoff Bodine because now he won’t get a chance to compete. Of all the go or go-homers, we are the final one in the standings that would make a race if qualifying rains out. While that’s good, it’s not good enough to take a chance on taking the team to Talladega without the proper motor. This team wants to race and put forth a full-race effort each week. This team is made of racers who want to compete. But, right now, we have to race smart with what we have and that means we can’t race this weekend.” While the team has found limited one-race sponsorships for some races, their goal is to have a multi-race deal in place to ensure they can be competitive.
“We were hoping to attract a partner for $25,000 a race so we could be run races from start-to-finish. And, we are still looking to achieve that partnership with the right company right now. That’s what we need to be more competitive. Gunselman Motorsports offers a value that many other teams can’t and our goal right now is to find those companies who want to be part of racing on affordable terms. Here we are trying to save money by not going to Talladega and the hotel is still going to charge us for the three rooms for three nights down there. When we called the Budget Inn to tell them our situation, they basically said we couldn’t get out of them. So, if anyone wants some rooms for this weekend, I know where three are available less than two miles from the track.”(Gunselman Motorsports PR)(4-22-2009)
- Todd Bodine in the #64 at Phoenix; Geoff at Talladega: Just like it has every race weekend, the Gunselman Motorsports #64 Toyota team heads to the next event hoping to qualify for the sake of survival and opportunity to compete. The Gunselman Motorsports team has been prepping the all-white #64 Toyota for Phoenix the last two weeks to ready for the one-mile oval. Having made three of the seven Sprint Cup races this year, the team will work heavily on qualifying runs during practice on Friday. Then, when it's time to line up with the other "go or go-homers" later that day in qualifying, driver Todd Bodine will utilize his championship skills to make the race. The team will have Geoff Bodine driving the #64 Toyota at Talladega Superspeedway.(Gunselman Motorsports PR)(4-15-2009)
- #64 Team gets sponsor for Texas: Gunselman Motorsports and the #64 Toyota driven by Todd Bodine have partnered with Mambo Restaurants to spice up the team's sponsorship for this weekend's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Headquartered in Houston, TX; the seven Mambo Restaurants include six Mambo Seafood and one Mambo Parilla restaurant. Featuring authentic Latin cuisine, the seafood restaurants started serving their signature dishes in the mid-1990s in the north and southwest Houston neighborhoods. After adding another five, the company opened Mambo Parilla in 2003 serving Mexican-inspired grilled items on Houston's East end. Each restaurant features family style or individual platters and are complimented by their copyrighted Mambo Michelada to wash it all down. "We appreciate Mambo's wanting to get involved with us for the Texas race weekend," said Larry Gunselman, team owner. "Every little bit helps with a team like ours and we hope to make the folks at Mambo Restaurants proud. I just wish they had a place closer than Houston so we could enjoy some of their great food. We got hungry just looking at their menu online the other day."(Gunselman Motorsports PR)(4-3-2009)
- Bodine to have new car and motor at Texas: Todd Bodine and the unsponsored #64 Toyota head to Texas Motor Speedway with momentum and mechanics on their side. Aiding in their effort will be a newly-purchased Toyota with a new motor under the hood. After making Bristol by qualifying 16th and Martinsville thanks to Mother Nature, the Gunselman Gang hopes another great qualifying effort will get them in the show and, in turn, closer to their goal of completing a race. With a crew from SPEED TV scheduled to follow them this weekend, they have extra incentive to make the Samsung 500 qualifying field. Larry Gunselman, team owner: “We were supposed to have SPEED TV following us during practice, qualifying and pre-race last week in Martinsville. But when the weather pretty much cancelled everything but the race, they were nice enough to reschedule for this weekend in Texas. I’d like to thank them for that, too. This should be a good weekend to do that because we’re using a new car and will have a new motor for it, too. Its chassis No. 47 that we bought from Red Bull Racing and AJ Allmendinger won the Showdown with last year at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. So, this would be a great weekend for someone to get their name on the hood and quarter panels for both SPEED TV following us and because we are looking for a great racing weekend, too.”(Gunselman Motorsports)(4-1-2009)
- Todd Bodine looks to make up for Bristol bump in Martinsville: While the gang at Gunselman Motorsports was happy to make the race at Bristol Motor Speedway this past weekend, they returned to their new shop having to bid farewell to a trusted “friend.”
After making their second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season, by qualifying a respectable 16th no less, Todd Bodine and team were ready to race. While running in the top-15 on lap 58, Bodine was forced into the outside wall damaging the car beyond race-return repairs. This left them with a crunched up car and 42nd-place finish. Upon further inspection at the shop Crew Chief Doug Richert, owner Larry Gunselman and crew came to a mutual decision. Chassis No. 5 was no longer useful and had to be “retired” from service. This was the same car the team used at Daytona, California, Las Vegas and Atlanta. So, with another car (Chassis No. 15) Bodine, Richert and team head to historic Martinsville Speedway for this weekend’s 500-lap race. In addition to making the race, they’d like to finish it, too. Having a former Coors Light Pole Award at Martinsville helps their qualifying-day efforts even more. The team will be using Car No. 15 for the first time this year; purchased from Bill Davis Racing.(Gunselman Motorsports)(3-27-2009)
- Gunselman Motorsports ready for Bristol: The #64 unsponsored Toyota of Gunselman Motorsports went through some major tweaking and wrench turning during the off-week of the Sprint Cup Series schedule. The car was taken to a chassis dyno before team owner Larry Gunselman, crew chief Doug Richert and gang used some good ol' fashioned elbow grease to make more improvements. And, in the mix of everything, they also moved from their borrowed space at Nitro Manufacturing by the Mooresville Dragstrip to some shared shop space at Rensi Motorsports in Lakeside Business Park; also in Mooresville. The team will be using Car #8, the same one they used in their attempts to make the Daytona 500, California and Atlanta races but made the race in Las Vegas. The team still has openings for unique sponsorship opportunities for anyone who wants to get involved in NASCAR racing.(Gunselman Motorsports PR)(3-20-2009)
- Geoff Bodine goes from catch can to cockpit for Atlanta race: Geoff Bodine did such a good job last week in Las Vegas being the catch can man for brother Todd; he got a promotion. This week, the 59-year young Bodine will go from catching gas to standing on it in the #64 Toyota for Gunselman Motorsports. On a normal team, that would be a huge move going from crew member to driver. But, when you're doing business the way the Gunselman Gang is this year in Sprint Cup Series competition; it's just another day at the track.
It also helps when you're a Daytona 500 champion, winner of 18 Sprint Cup races and one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers like Bodine. Being a three-time pole winner and qualifying record holder at the 1.5-mile trioval is an added bonus. After making their first race of 2009 last weekend, the Gunselman Gang was running 28th when a broken valve spring ended their race 28 laps show of the finish. The pit crew consisted of Bodine as the catch can, owner Larry Gunselman as the jackman and crew chief Doug Richert as the front tire changer. Bodine was already the announced co-driver when the season started, but when he insisted on helping out in way possible, Gunselman took him up on the offer. So, Bodine donned the firesuit and safety gear to catch gas on pit stops last week. The week, he'll be back behind the wheel of the unsponsored #64 Toyota attempting to make his 38th career AMS start. "Well, I guess I'll have to look for a catch can man when we make the race this week," said Gunselman.(Gunselman Motorsports PR)(3-3-2009)
- Todd Bodine to run Atlanta for Germain: Germain Racing has entered the Kobalt Tools 500 this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway in a move a top team official hopes will boost its NASCAR Sprint Cup program. The team, which is fielding the #13 Toyota for Max Papis in half of the Cup races this season, will enter the #35 this weekend for Todd Bodine. Team general manager Mike Hillman Sr. is listed as the owner, and Randy Goss will serve as the crew chief. The number of races the team will run with the #35 is still to be determined. "We are running the 35 Camry at Atlanta to gain more data for our Cup program and help us keep looking toward the future ...,” said Hillman. “The primary focus … is to collect more data to continue to improve Germain Racing’s Cup Series program.”(SceneDaily)(3-3-2009)
- #64 team signs two sponsors for Vegas UPDATE more, images: #64-Gunselman Motorsports has signed two companies to a one-race deal. Curtis Steel Co., of Las Vegas, has signed on to support the team's qualifying and race efforts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. Curtis Steel provides quality carbon and alloy steels, aluminum, stainless, welding supplies and ornamental iron supplies. They have provided those services for multiple high-profile projects in Las Vegas. Also taking part in the sponsorship is Core Construction. They are also in Las Vegas with offices in Ariz, Fla, Ill and Texas, as well. One of their most recent projects of significance was the building of Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Their forte is the building of learning institutions, hotels, resorts and government buildings. Todd Bodine is behind the wheel of the #64 Toyota this weekend as the team strives to make it's first Sprint Cup Series race of the season. They missed out last week by one position.(Gunselman Motorsports PR), see images of the scheem on my #64 Team Schemes page.(2-27-2009)
UPDATE: Gunselman Motorsports has enjoyed the benefits of making their first race of 2009 in several ways. And, the enjoyment keeps coming, even hours before the Shelby 427 green flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Already gaining two sponsors before qualifying on Friday in Core Construction and Curtiss Steel, the team has now signed on two more for the race. The #64 Toyota with Todd Bodine behind the wheel will now also carry NY Bagel Deli and Communication Electronic Systems. NYC Bagel Deli is out of Chicago, Ill and specializes in kettle-boiled bagels. Principal owner Corey Kaplan, a longtime friend of co-driver Geoff Bodine, was so excited about his involvement he became a licensed team member during the weekend. Communication Electronic Systems is a low-voltage subcontractor in the Las Vegas area. Brian Thomas and Dave Ellis are the principals involved with the sponsorship.(Gunselman Motorsports PR), see images of the scheem on my #64 Team Schemes page.(3-1-2009)
- Todd Bodine in the #64 at Calif: Todd Bodine, just as planned, will drive the #64 Toyota for Gunselman Motorsports at the Auto Club Speedway in the Auto Club 500. The youngest of the racing Bodine brothers takes over for Geoff, who attempted the Daytona 500, just as planned in the underfinanced Toyota of Gunselman Motorsports. Keeping with the plan, the team is doing the West Coast swing consisting of the California and Las Vegas races. Larry Gunselman, team owner: “Everything is going to plan. We are putting Todd in the car for the races that don’t conflict with his Truck Series schedule. When he can’t do it, then Geoff will be in the car. I take a lot of pride in having Todd get in our Toyota fresh off his Truck win at Daytona. I just hope that winning feeling carries over to California this weekend when it comes to qualifying on Friday. I like our chances for making the next two races. Once we do, then we can go racing and get this team moving forward in the right direction. Geoff has been a huge help doing everything from working on the car in the shop and at the track; to helping get it ready for loading. He’s going to be out West with us to continue helping, too.” In addition to being the crew chief, Doug Richert is also capable of jumping over the wall to change tires; just like in the old days when he first started out in racing. Gunselman just might have to call him into action – stay tuned. The team will be using Car No. 8, the same one they used in their attempt to make the Daytona 500. The team still has openings for unique sponsorship opportunities for anyone who want to get involved in NASCAR racing. Send inquiries to info@larrygunselman.com. Like many NASCAR team since the schedule started having back-to-back West Coast races in California then Las Vegas, the Gunselman team will remain in the Pacific Time Zone until after the Vegas race.(Gunselman Motorsports PR)(2-19-2009)
- Gunselman Motorsports secures assoc sponsor for Daytona: Gunselman Motorsports has secured much-needed support for their Daytona 500 efforts on the eve of qualifying for the Coors Light Pole Award. Fred’s Hometown Discount Store - The Low Price Leader, contacted team officials late Thursday night to see how they could help the underfunded Sprint Cup Series team. Larry Gunselman, team owner, and Fred’s Inc. worked out an agreement where their logo would adorn the hood of Geoff Bodine’s #64 Toyota. “This is great in so many ways,” Gunselman said. “We came here telling everyone we were coming down to Daytona to try and race. With so many people out of work or on the verge of losing their jobs, we represent people going through rough times. Our team is made up of guys without full-time jobs. But, just like everyone in this country who puts in their resume to get a job, we put ours in at the NASCAR hauler every week to get a starting spot. If we make the race, then we work. If not, then we try again the next race. America loves and underdog effort; and we are definitely an underdog effort. When the people at Fred’s Hometown Discount Stores saw what we were doing and were about; they said they wanted to get involved and help. We can’t thank them enough and hope to represent them well on Sunday and Thursday. Lucky for them, we have plenty of room on the hood, deck lid and quarter panels for their logo.” Fred’s Inc. owns more than 600 stores and 300 pharmacies operating in 15 Southeastern states.(Gunselman Motorsports PR)(2-8-2009)
- Geoff Bodine to attempt Daytona 500: Geoff Bodine will drive the #64 Toyota entrant in an attempt to qualify for the 51st running of the Daytona 500 for Gunselman Motorsports. Bodine will be making his first Sprint Cup Series attempt since 2004. The 59-year young native of Chemung, NY will be making several attempts trading off with his brother, Todd, for the Gunselman team during the 2009 season. Bodine’s last attempt was for also for Gunselman when he ran Mach 1 Motorsports. “This is a pretty neat opportunity and something I’m looking forward to doing,” Bodine said. “I still feel I have the competitive spirit and ability to get out there and race. I have driven so many types of cars from Cup to Modifieds to Trucks that I’m looking forward to the learning curve here with the new Sprint Cup car. When Larry first approached me about this, I started to get excited about getting behind the wheel again. So, here I am, getting ready for Daytona and seeing what our Toyota Camry can do at Daytona.” In addition to the opportunity to race, Bodine and Gunselman are both hoping to draw attention to the US Bobsled efforts that Bodine has headed up through his annual Bodine Bobsled Challenge held in Lake Placid, NY each January. “To have someone like Geoff in our car is incredible,” Gunselman said. “He and I have been friends for many years and I can’t even begin to thank him enough for signing on with us. I’ve been to every Bobsled Challenge and I’m hoping we can draw awareness to that effort, as well. We’re unsponsored right now, but have some key individuals helping us get the funding we need to compete on a larger basis. To see Geoff in the shop working on the car, in the car and interacting with the guys has been great. He won’t let on, but I think he’s getting more and more excited as time draws near for Daytona.” Interested parties can inquire to info@larrygunselman.com regarding unique sponsorship opportunities available.(1-31-2009)
- Gunselman, Bodine's start new Cup team: Journeyman driver Larry Gunselman is the latest to make an attempt at the Cup Series dream in 2009 as the Washington native has formed a team for himself and a pair of veteran brothers, Geoff and Todd Bodine. Gunselman, who won races in the old Winston West Series and its most popular driver award in 1996 before traveling east in 2000 to seek his racing fortunes, is the principal in the team that will field #64 Toyotas. He said Wednesday morning he's backed by a group of investors who are new to the sport and is still seeking primary sponsorship. "Right now we're looking at running for purse money while we try to come up with sponsorship dollars," Gunselman said. "The more sponsor dollars you get, the harder you can run. I tell people all the time, if you don't have money, you've got to race smart, and you can race hard if you do have money." If a team had been able to make all 36 Cup races last season and finish in the least-paying position, it would have won $2,880,640 in purse money. Gunselman has six Camrys -- three each that were purchased from Bill Davis Racing and Red Bull Racing -- and Wednesday he'd just come from the NASCAR R&D Center with his crew chief "for as long as I can keep him," former champion Doug Richert, and the second chassis they'd had certified. Gunselman, who has previous Cup team ownership experience from when he fielded the #98 Mach 1 Motorsports cars in 2004 with Chris Edwards, made 26 of 36 races and finished 39th in the owner standings, said to start the season attempting the races was critical. "There are so many people out of work out there right now that I believe the whole industry is going through a major correction factor -- the whole economy of the United States is going through a correction factor at the moment," Gunselman said. "There's an opportunity for a guy who's willing to go out there and take advantage of an opportunity and find a good group of people who really want to race, and we've got that. I think the current economic conditions are going to weed a lot of people out of our sport that didn't get in it for the right reason to begin with, and the real racers are going to figure out a way to survive and come out of this economic situation still involved in the sport."
While the team wasn't sure who'd be in its car for Speedweeks, when the #64 will attempt to make the Daytona 500 as a "go-or-go-home" car, Gunselman said Todd Bodine would definitely drive at Fontana and Las Vegas, the second and third races on the schedule. Bodine is the 2006 Truck Series champion, who also has 15 wins in the Nationwide Series and 228 Cup starts, with five poles, seven top-five and 21 top-10 finishes. Geoff Bodine, who won the 1986 Daytona 500, 18 Cup races, six in the Nationwide Series and hundreds of Modified races -- but who hasn't made a NASCAR national touring start since 2005, when he made eight starts in the Nationwide Series, may run at Daytona. Gunselman, 48, most recently made spot starts in all of NASCAR's national tours -- including 20 in the '08 Nationwide and Truck series.(NASCAR.com)(1-29-2009)
