Geoff Bodine, the 1986 Daytona 500 winner takes driving seriously. So seriously that when upstate New York-born driver was given an opportunity to drive bobsleds he thought he could make them faster and better since they hit his radar scope at the 1992 Albertville Olympics.
Now, he’s part of a group of NASCAR and NHRA drivers meeting at the former Winter Olympic village, in Lake Placid New York for the fifth annual Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge.
The group includes NASCAR’s rookie of the Year, Joey Logano, road race specialist, Boris Said, Randy LaJoie, Todd Bodine and George Brunnhoelzl III, Philip Morris, Randy LaJoie, Carl Renezeder, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon and Melanie Troxel.
In a NASCAR press release it was said “the mission of the event is to create awareness and funding for the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project Inc. Bodine joined forces with auto racing designer Bob Cuneo to create made-in-America bobsleds for the United States men's and women's national teams. Since 2002, the Bo-Dyn effort has produced one Olympic gold medal (Jill Bakken), two silver medals (Todd Hays and Shauna Rohbock), and a bronze (Brian Shimer).”
And while many of his former colleagues will be focused on the 2010 Daytona 500 Bodine is focused on the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
We really feel like we have the equipment, the athletes to go up and win some gold medals," Bodine said. "This is a happy part of my life, there's no question about it. I'm very excited."
On Sunday at Lake Placid, Team NHRA had its best showing ever in the annual Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge with rookie competitor Melanie Troxel earning the gold medal at the charity event.
Fellow drag racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. was just .07 seconds back of Troxel's two-run combined time of 1:39.33 seconds, bringing home silver with a 1:39.40. NASCAR road race specialist and multi-time challenge winner Boris Said ended up third, filling out the podium with a 1:39.69.
In the second contest of the day, the NASCAR vs. NHRA showdown, Troxel once again shined, blazing through the NHRA side of the ladder before taking runner-up honors behind NASCAR rookie of the year Joey Logano, 49.81 to 50.07.
photo:Leon Switzer, Total Photo
Now, he’s part of a group of NASCAR and NHRA drivers meeting at the former Winter Olympic village, in Lake Placid New York for the fifth annual Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge.
The group includes NASCAR’s rookie of the Year, Joey Logano, road race specialist, Boris Said, Randy LaJoie, Todd Bodine and George Brunnhoelzl III, Philip Morris, Randy LaJoie, Carl Renezeder, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon and Melanie Troxel.
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| Joey Logano at speed! |
In a NASCAR press release it was said “the mission of the event is to create awareness and funding for the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project Inc. Bodine joined forces with auto racing designer Bob Cuneo to create made-in-America bobsleds for the United States men's and women's national teams. Since 2002, the Bo-Dyn effort has produced one Olympic gold medal (Jill Bakken), two silver medals (Todd Hays and Shauna Rohbock), and a bronze (Brian Shimer).”
And while many of his former colleagues will be focused on the 2010 Daytona 500 Bodine is focused on the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
We really feel like we have the equipment, the athletes to go up and win some gold medals," Bodine said. "This is a happy part of my life, there's no question about it. I'm very excited."
On Sunday at Lake Placid, Team NHRA had its best showing ever in the annual Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge with rookie competitor Melanie Troxel earning the gold medal at the charity event.
Fellow drag racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. was just .07 seconds back of Troxel's two-run combined time of 1:39.33 seconds, bringing home silver with a 1:39.40. NASCAR road race specialist and multi-time challenge winner Boris Said ended up third, filling out the podium with a 1:39.69.
In the second contest of the day, the NASCAR vs. NHRA showdown, Troxel once again shined, blazing through the NHRA side of the ladder before taking runner-up honors behind NASCAR rookie of the year Joey Logano, 49.81 to 50.07.
photo:Leon Switzer, Total Photo
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