Bodine news – all three, Todd back with the #26? Geoffrey testing the #26 and for Brett, run Daytona with APR? in the 24 hours of Daytona? Geoffrey Bodine along with Jerry Nadeau embarks on a tour with the Armed Forces Entertainment Program in support of “Operation Enduring Freedom”, to help maintain morale for service members in Afghanistan and other Southeast Asia sites for a week. Bodine’s brother Brett was supposed to be a part of that group, but business commitments forced him to change his plans. Once back, Geoffrey Bodine will be testing the #26 Haas Carter Motorsports Ford for brother Todd, who is still recuperating from back surgery in November. Geoffrey tested for the team on Dec. 12 and 13 at Talladega Motor Speedway. Haas Carter’s Web site said the team expects to have its sponsorship package for 2003 signed very soon, with Todd as its driver. Speculation is that the Army National Guard will be one of the team sponsors [Jayski note: but that is supposed to be the sponsor for the #54 BH Motorsports team]. Geoffrey will also help conduct tests for middle brother Brett Bodine [#11] in January, with Geoffrey testing a second team car to the #11 driven by Brett. Brett is finalizing his 2003 plans, which will likely see the Hooters restaurant chain return as the team’s sponsor and involved somehow in the ownership of the team. Geoffrey’s plans for 2003 are beginning to take shape after he split with the #09 James Finch-owned Phoenix Racing team last month. Bodine did a limited schedule of races for that team, finishing a best of third in the Daytona 500. Bodine, who has sponsorship from the Miccosukee Indian Gaming casino for a limited Winston Cup schedule, has been shopping for a new team. Geoffrey is supposedly talking to Andy Petree Racing [#33 and #55] about driving for them in the Daytona 500. However, the Web site reported that team owner Andy Petree has secured a single-race sponsor for his #55 car in the Daytona 500. The name of the sponsor has not yet been released, but Web site www.jayski.com reported that it may be motor home builder Monaco Coaches. Petree had been lining up Ken Schrader as his driver, but Schrader signed with BAM Racing on Friday. Petree is now looking for a replacement driver. If a deal with Bodine materializes, the Indian gaming casino, which is based in Florida, will probably show up as an associate sponsor on a Petree car for Daytona. As for the remaining Winston Cup races that Bodine has sponsorship for (thought to be 12 to 20 races), Bodine has not said whom he’ll eventually hook up with. Also, Geoffrey Bodine could join fellow Cup drivers Kevin LePage and Kyle Petty in competing in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona sports car event on Feb. 1 and 2. Cegwa Sport Daytona Prototype team is interested in him for the ride in the prestigious endurance race. The team will field a 4.3-liter Toyota-powered Fabcar this year in the series, which makes two stops at Watkins Glen International.(in part from the Star Gazette)(12-26-2002)
