Steve Prescott, owner of Team EJP Racing, has announced 1986 Daytona 500 winner Geoffrey Bodine as the new driver of the team’s #03 Chevy Silverado to open the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. Bodine, a winner of 18 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races in addition to hundreds of short track wins in his storied career, brings a level of experience to the team that Prescott believes will be invaluable, especially for the upcoming Daytona Speedweeks.
Bodine is not a stranger to NCTS competition. He fielded a team in the series from 1995 through 1997, and has 15 career starts in the division. As a driver, he has scored one Bud Pole Award, six top-5 finishes, and 8 top-10 finishes. He has scored three runner-up finishes in the NCTS, all coming in the series first year, 1995. His last appearance in a Truck came in March 2003 at Darlington. As a team owner, Bodine has three NCTS victories (with driver Dave Rezendes, at Homestead, I-70, and Sears Point, all in 1997).
Plans call for Team EJP Racing to enter Bodine in at least the first six races of the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. The team is prepared to make a run at the series championship, but is awaiting word on sponsorship before making that commitment. Prescott also addressed the situation with the team’s driver during the 2003 season, Eric Jones.
“We really like Eric, and we want him to have every opportunity to be a success in this sport,” said Prescott. “But we needed to make a decision based upon what was best in the long run for this race team. We are still working on some sponsorship programs with Eric, and if they come to fruition, we think we can run up front and be competitive with him. But at the same time, if a better opportunity presents itself to him, we certainly don’t want to hold him back from a full-time ride.” Bodine has recently returned from a six-day trip to the Middle East to visit with coalition troops. He visited Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar while overseas, and made the trip with several other NASCAR personalities.(Team EJP PR)(1-7-2004)
AND Bodine’s deal with EJP Racing is initially set for the first six races of the season, beginning at Daytona on Feb. 14. If the team can secure a primary sponsor it will continue to compete for the remainder of the 25-race season. “This is a great team with good equipment,” Bodine said. “We should be very competitive and maybe we can get a win or two in these first races and get a sponsor lined up for them.” Bodine has had a close association with Prescott for some time. Bodine’s son Barry drove for the team in 2002 and Geoffrey did some testing for the team at Homestead, Fla., last year. “I’ve known Steve Prescott’s father for quite a while,” he said. “We have a history together and I’ve spent the winter trying to help them. They don’t have a sponsor, and with me driving, hopefully that will generate some interest.”(in part from the Elmira Star Gazette)(1-9-2004)
