hearing that Todd Bodine and Germain/Arnold Racing have parted ways and that the team may have lost Toyota support, odd considering Bodine won two races in a few starts.(12-13-2004)
UPDATE Bodine back in the mix? a 2nd truck team?: couldn’t get any info out of the team myself about the situation, sources tell me that Bodine is now talking to Arnold since the above post….and found this update today:
It looks as if Todd Bodine may have found a new home in NASCAR. The Chemung native is in line to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on a full-time basis in 2005 with the Germain/Arnold Racing #30 Toyota, a member of the team said Wednesday. Bodine, 42, turned to the Truck Series for the first time since 1995 when he joined Germain/Arnold Racing in September. They proved to be a successful combination right out of the box, scoring a fourth-place finish in the Kroger 200 at Richmond International Raceway. He followed that with four more top-10 finishes, including two wins and a runner-up finish in 10 starts. Patty Markin, an office staff person [cool title] for the Concord, N.C.-based team, said its sister NASCAR Nextel Cup team Arnold Motorsports is also planning on having Bodine return to do a limited schedule next year in the #50 Dodge. “As it is right now, it looks like it’s going to be a 10-race deal in the Cup series,” said Markin, who hinted it could be more if sponsorship is found. Markin said the Cup team, currently run out of the same shop as the truck team, will move to a new shop just a block away. She said Bodine is in negotiations with both teams and that an announcement of a deal could come by the end of the month. “They’ve been talking numbers, but until it is in writing and the contracts are signed we aren’t going to release any official statements,” Markin said. Bodine could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The news from Markin comes in stark contrast to a rumor that appeared on the Web site www.jayski.com [OOPS] on Monday that said Bodine may be leaving one or both teams and that Toyota may not be back with the the Germain/Arnold truck team. “I think somebody just wants to cause havoc in the camp,” Markin said. “Todd and (crew chief) Mike Hillman were just here in the shop (on Tuesday) and everything was fine and dandy. We are happy with Todd and Toyota is very happy with Hillman and the way we run our truck team.” Markin said Toyota is expected to expand its commitment to the team’s Truck Series effort by adding a second truck team for 2005. She said an announcement on the Toyota deal could come as soon as Monday. No driver has been selected for the proposed second team, but Markin said they’ve been inundated with inquiries from prospective drivers. “I’ve got everybody and their brother calling me, including Cup drivers that are out of rides,” Markin said. Markin ruled out any chance of Geoffrey Bodine being considered for the potential open truck ride.(Elmira Star Gazette)(12-16-2004)
AND gettings all kinds of ‘rumors’ on this, one involved Bodine going to the #66/#67 Fiddleback team, or Bodine and Tony Furr teaming up, or Bodine going back with Arnold and possibly becoming a two-truck team….all with Toyota.(12-16-2004)
