Two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Todd Bodine appears to be out of a ride at Red Horse Racing. Multiple sources say the team laid-off a number of employees today, with plans to field only two full-time Truck Series Toyotas next season. Bodine, the 2006 and 2010 NCWTS champion, finished 14th in the 2012 championship standings with one win — at Dover on June 1 — along with five Top-5 and seven Top-10 finishes. He appears to be the odd-man-out at Red Horse Racing, with his #11 machine set to be parked due to a lack of sponsorship. Peters, who finished second behind champion James Buescher, and John Wes Townley, who brings sponsorship from the family-owned Zaxby’s fast food chain, will drive the team’s #17 and 7 Toyotas in 2013. Calls to both Bodine and Red Horse Racing seeking comment were not immediately returned.(GodfatherMotorsports.com)(11-26-2012)
UPDATE: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Todd Bodine is in familiar territory this off-season — facing an unsettled 2013. For the second consecutive year, the 48-year-old from Chemung is looking for sponsorship to keep his driving ambitions alive. After earning Truck Series titles in 2006 and 2010 with Germain Racing, Bodine was let go from the team after the 2011 season because of a lack of sponsorship Bodine found a home with the three-truck Red Horse Racing team in 2012 after he secured a sponsor for the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. With limited sponsorship, they managed to complete a full season. Now, without a sponsor in place for Red Horse Racing to run a third truck in 2013, Bodine is once again scrambling. Bodine said he’s “optimistically hopeful” his wife [Janet] will put a deal together. If she does, Bodine said he will be able to return to the Red Horse team. That is contrary to other reports, which speculated the team would run only two teams — one for the returning Timothy Peters and the other for self-funded driver John Wes Townley. If we get sponsorship, we are more than welcome to race there,” Bodine said. “I’m a Toyota guy, and there are very few Toyota Teams. They are obviously one of the best and they would be more than happy to have me back.” Bodine confirmed, though, that the Red Horse team has laid off personnel. Bodine struggled in the series this year with eight non-finishes out of 22 events. He ended up a career-low 14th in the final standings. Bodine had not finished below fourth in the Truck Series standings from 2005 to 2010 before finishing sixth in 2011. Bodine did pick up a win this year, his 22nd in the series, along with five top-five finishes.(Elmira Star-Gazette)(12-6-2012)
