Geoffrey Bodine returns to Cup UPDATE 2 Smirnoff Ice the sponsor: FSN’s Totally NASCAR resports that Geoffrey Bodine is expected to run two Cup races for his brother Brett at Bristol and Homestead. Brett is supposedly close to signing two major sponsors. Brett drives and ownes the #11 Ralphs Supermarkets Fords, past rumors had the car number as #91(7-3-2001) UPDATE: Since being let go from his #60 Chevrolet Winston Cup ride last year, Geoffrey Bodine has been striving to get back into NASCAR’s top level. Well, it looks like he’s going to do just that for at least one race. The elder Bodine will attempt to qualify for the August 25 night time event at Bristol Motor Speedway in a deal with Brett Bodine. He was supposed to run one race in Charlotte this year, but that deal fell through. “This deal is a definite,” Geoffrey said. “Right now, it looks like it’s going to be a go for the Bristol event.”(NASCAR.com Buzz)(7-8-2001) UPDATE 2: Brett Bodine Racing will field a second Ford Taurus for Geoffrey Bodine for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 25th. A premium malt beverage, launched in the U.S. in January of this year, Smirnoff Ice will make its NASCAR debut as the sponsor of the #09 entry from the Mooresville, NC based operation. Owner Brett Bodine looks forward to the opportunity. “I have been committed to assisting my brother in any way possible to stay in this sport. It just took some time to put a deal together that was right for all of us. It’s a great opportunity to introduce a new sponsor to NASCAR Winston Cup racing and at the same time see Geoffrey continue his long Winston Cup racing career. We hope this is a beginning of more things to come,” stated Brett. Geoffrey added his enthusiasm, “This is something my brother and I have dreamed about. Racing together is one thing, but racing together as a team is another. I hope and dream that everything will work out for the best. It’s exciting to have things come together for us and I look forward to showcasing a new sponsor and having Brett as a teammate.” Smirnoff Ice (www.smirnoffice.com) is a lightly carbonated, citrus flavor malt beverage from Guinness Bass Import Co/UDV North America Inc., a division of Diageo plc in the USA and Canada, one of the world’s leading consumer brand companies which operates in over 200 markets worldwide and has international sales of 17.3 billion dollars(Brett Bodine Racing PR), being asked so….Why is Smirnoff Ice ok but Crown was no ok’d by NASCAR for the #27 Eel River Racing team? As far as I know, NASCAR doesn’t allow hard liquior sponsors (Whiskey, Vodka, etc) but allows Beer. Malt Liquior etc, Smiroff Ice is similar to a Malt Liquor, like Zima. Have a problem with that line of thinking? Feel free to contact NASCAR, see my Racing FAQ page for contact info and a link to their feedback form(7-11-2001)
