Jennifer Long
07/20/08 04:49:37PM
@jennifer-long
Win Friday may lead to more opportunities to race? Bodine to return to track tonightBy TOM KREAGER Staff Writer July 18, 2008Post a CommentRecommend Print this page E-mail this articleShare this article: Del.icio.us Facebook Digg Reddit Newsvine Whats this?Geoff Bodine never wanted Nashville to lose its Winston Cup races.Bodine winner of the last Cup race held here July 14, 1984 had finally figured out how to race competitively on the five-eighths-mile track at Music City Motorplex."I really felt bad when they got rid of that track," said Bodine, who made six Cup starts in Nashville with two top-five finishes. "That track and the track at (North) Wilkesboro were two that I had really figured out."And they took both off the schedule."Bodine will be back at the Motorplex tonight as one of 11 drivers participating in the 30-lap Old School race that kicks off the track's celebration of 50 years of paved racing. An autograph session is scheduled for 7. The race starts at 8:45.Of the 11, Bodine is the lone driver to win a Cup race at Nashville.The participants will use cars donated by drivers in the Motorplex's Sportsman division. The track insurance will pay for any damage to the cars, General Manager Ron Jennett said.Sportsman drivers also will receive four new tires after the race for donating their cars."We'll try and put on a good show," said Bodine, who will drive Jeff Belt's No. 02 car. "Not knowing anything about the cars will be an adjustment."We appreciate the local drivers giving up their cars. We try to respect their cars because of that fact."Bodine still has the guitar he won from the Pepsi 420 in 1984. He recently had it restrung after his kids damaged it."It's just a plain Jane guitar," Bodine said. "It's not painted up like some of the guitars they hand out now (at Nashville Superspeedway)."A Copley guitar will be awarded to the winner tonight. A guitar will be presented to the winning crew chief, who also will receive the Jake Elder Award $2,000 from former track champion Darrell Waltrip. Elder was a former crew chief of Waltrip.Bodine said he is in negotiations with Germain Racing for a Craftsman Truck ride at Talladega in October. Bodine's younger brother Todd is one of three drivers for Germain.Reach Tom Kreager at 615-726-8917 or tkreager@tennessean.com.------------------------------------------------------------------------------I should think Geoff's win in the Shootout will help his chances to secure this particular ride. Maybe even something more. We can always hope!What are your thoughts on this development?Jennifer
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