| News/
HERZOG JACKSON MOTORSPORTS FINISH
13TH AT NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY
LEBANON, Tenn. (April 14, 2003) – Todd
Bodine and the Herzog Jackson Motorsports racing team posted
a 13th place finish on Saturday in the Pepsi 300 at Nashville
(Tenn.) Superspeedway. The finish keeps Bodine on top of the
Busch Series driver's points standings, 78 points ahead of
second place.
Bodine, who splits his time between his full
time Winston Cup and Busch Series teams, was in Martinsville,
Virginia on Friday to qualify his No. 54 Army National Guard
car for the Winston Cup Virginia 500. NASCAR veteran Mike
McLaughlin qualified and practiced the No. 92 Herzog Jackson
Motorsports Chevy at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway for good
friend Bodine, who flew to Tennessee on Saturday afternoon
to take the driver's seat for the Pepsi 300.
Because the Herzog Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet
was qualified by McLaughlin, it is a NASCAR rule that Bodine
was required to start the race from the back of the field.
When the green flag dropped on Saturday for the beginning
of the 225-lap event, Bodine began the long climb to the front.
In just 24 laps, Bodine had made his way up to 22nd position
when the first caution flag of the day was thrown. Crew chief
Tony "Rambo" Liberati made the call for Bodine to
enter the pits under the yellow flag for a routine stop, adding
fresh tires and fuel.
Restarting on lap 30, the No. 92 continued
to fight its way through the field and had made it to the
12th position when another caution flag was thrown. Liberati
then instructed Bodine to enter the pits once again for fuel
and a track bar adjustment. Due to the Herzog Jackson Motorsports
pit crew's perfectly executed stop, Bodine gained five positions,
and upon the re-start on lap 77 was running in the seventh
position.
Bodine continued to battle his way among the
top-10, and when the fourth caution flag of the day was thrown
on lap 100, the No. 92 was in 12th place. Because Bodine appeared
to be losing track position, Liberati again instructed the
No. 92 to enter the pits for four new Goodyears and a slight
wedge adjustment. When the green flag flew on lap 104, the
Herzog Jackson Motorsports Chevy was in 20th place.
With four new tires, Bodine quickly made his
way through the field and by lap 142 had taken the fifth spot
from the No. 46 of Ashton Lewis Jr. The No. 92 continued to
run with the lead pack for the next 40 laps. Due to wear on
the Herzog Jackson Chevrolet's tires, Liberati made the call
for Bodine to enter the pits under the green flag for fresh
tires and fuel. Upon leaving the pits, the No. 92 was running
in the 18th position, but was one lap down. Having fresh tires
proved to be beneficial for Bodine in his quest to gain back
valuable track position, and had made his way to the 14th
spot by lap 201. Unfortunately, a caution flag flew on lap
202 and the car remained one lap down. The No. 92 finished
the 225-lap event in the 13th spot.
"We had a great car today," stated
Bodine. "We knew we had a car that could run in the top-10,
but considering I did not practice the Herzog Jackson Chevy,
I think 13th is pretty good. Tony [Liberati] and the guys
always bring a car that has the ability to win, and hopefully
we can continue to maintain our consistency for the remainder
of the season."
For more information on Todd Bodine and Herzog
Jackson Motorsports, please visit www.hjmotorsports.com, www.reggiejackson.com,
and www.todd-bodine.com.
|