NASCAR Legend - Geoff Bodine

Geoffrey Eli Bodine is best known for his success indriving his own cars. Daytona International Speedway
NASCAR. During his 51-year career, he was involvedhas been a very eventful track for Geoff. He gained
in many forms of racing, starting with micro-midgetshis biggest victory there in 1986 at the Daytona 500.
at the age of 5 and working his way up to CupIt's also the site of one of the most horrific and
racing. He was famous in the Northwest for winingterrifying wrecks in NASCAR history. Geoff was
more modified races than any other driver and isdriving in the Craftsman series when his truck along
named in the Guinness Book of World Records withwith 13 others, was involved in a vicious crash.
"Most wins in one season".Geoff's truck was thrown into the barrier fence and
Geoff is the oldest of three brothers who have allexploded into a massive fireball. Nine fans were
been racecar drivers. He was born into a family withinjured and Geoff suffered several broken bones. He
a passion for racing. His dad and grandfather builtmissed over ½ of the 2000 season. However,
Chemung Speedrome in New York soon after Geofftwo years later he once again returned to Daytona
was born and it didn't take long for him to developfor the Daytona 500 and proudly finished third.
his racing skills at this track.Not only was Geoff a success on the track, but he
About the age of 30, he made his first start in thealso was the innovation behind several racing
then Sprint Cup series. His first full season was inproducts. He helped introduce power steering and full
1982 when he was named Rookie of the Year. Duringface helmets into Cup racing. He also designed a
the mid 80's, Geoff's hunger for victory began to risespecial spring-loaded seat that's now used in several
and he became an aggressive and skilled driver,racing series and a line of detailing products.
dominating many of NASCAR's events. He began toIn addition to auto racing products, Geoff was
develop a burning rivalry with Dale Earnhardt andinvolved in building a more competitive bobsled for
there was tension on and off the track. It is said thatthe U.S. Olympic team. With his engineering
once when Earnhardt caught his son Dale, Jr. playingbackground and the technology and experience he
with a #5 Geoff Bodine toy car, he took it from thegained from racing, he created Bo-Dyn Bobsleds
boy and destroyed it.which made the U.S. team more competitive. Today,
This rivalry led to a conference with NASCARGeoff Bodine is very involved in his community
officials. Geoff has driven for some of the bestserving as a volunteer fireman and a board member
known car owners in NASCAR such as Juniorof the Make-A-Wish Foundation and he's still involved
Johnson, Bud Moore, and Rick Hendrick as well asin the BoDyn program and the Olympic Bobsled team.