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Score Four for Toyota
Todd Bodine, driver of the No. 30 Germain/Arnold Racing
Toyota Tundra, captured his second straight NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) victory when he crossed the
finish line first in Saturday’s race at Texas Motor
Speedway. It marks the second consecutive victory for
Bodine, who captured the checkered flag in the most recent
series race at California Speedway (Oct. 2) two weeks ago.
Toyota has now registered four wins in its debut season
in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Earlier this year,
Travis Kvapil recorded Toyota’s inaugural series victory
when he drove his No. 24 Bang Racing Tundra into ‘Victory
Lane’ at Michigan International Speedway (July 31).
Kvapil also earned Toyota’s second win of the season when
he was the first driver across the finish line at New
Hampshire International Speedway (Sept. 18).
The race at Texas Motor Speedway was just Bodine’s
fifth NCTS start this season with Germain/Arnold Racing.
In his five races, Bodine has recorded a remarkable racing
resume featuring two wins (Texas and California), a
second-place (Las Vegas) and a fourth (Richmond).
“This is pretty incredible,” said Bodine, following the
race. “It’s just our fifth race of the year, and we
already have two wins, a second, and a fourth. That’s a
testament to Mike Hillman (crew chief) and the great job
he does, and to the hard work of everyone at Germain/Arnold
Racing. Toyota has given us great trucks and motors, and
I’m really proud to be part of the Toyota family.”
In Texas, Bodine started 22nd and began working his way
through the field when the race began. In just 20 laps,
the Chemung, N.Y.-native was running fifth, and he moved
into the lead on lap 67 of the 146 laps. After holding the
lead for 33 circuits around the 1.5-mile Texas track,
Bodine entered the pits for fuel and tires. When he
returned to the track, it took the 40-year-old driver just
nine laps to regain the lead, and he led the final 38 laps
en route to the checkered flag.
“I can’t describe how great a feeling it is to sit in a
truck that good,” said Bodine in ‘Victory Lane.’ “My
Tundra was just awesome all day. When I was out in front
of the field, in the ‘clean’ air, everything was great.
It was just a lot of fun to race today.”
Bodine and Mike Skinner, driver of the No. 5 Bill Davis
Racing Tundra, briefly battled each other for the lead,
three-quarters of the way through the race, before Bodine
emerged as having the stronger Tundra.
“Mike (Skinner) and I didn’t really race against each
other as long as I thought we would,” explained Bodine.
“We ran together for just a couple of laps before the
caution came out. Unfortunately, I think he ran over some
debris and got a flat tire.”
Johnny Benson followed Bodine to the finish line in his
No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Tundra. The second-place finish
was the best result for Benson in his nine races this
season, and was his best NCTS finish since he was second
at Phoenix in 1996.
“That run wasn’t too bad,” said Benson, after the
race. “It was good enough for second. Todd (Bodine) was
just really good and I couldn’t catch him. If I was able
to catch him, I’m not sure if I would have been able to
pass him. We’re really happy how things worked out
today. The Toyota engine ran strong, and everyone at Bill
Davis Racing did a great job.”
Along with Bodine, who led 71 laps, three other Tundra
drivers led the field at Texas -- Bill Lester (No. 22 Bill
Davis Racing Tundra) led 13 laps; Hank Parker Jr. (No. 21
Innovative Motorsports AirVest Tundra) led 34 laps; and
Mike Skinner was in front of the field for 17 laps.
Lester and David Reutimann (No. 17 Darrell Waltrip
Motorsports NTN Bearings Tundra) were involved in a four
truck accident on the front-stretch three-quarters of the
way through the race and had to be taken to the track
medical facility. Both drivers were then taken to the
hospital, examined and released later that evening.
Finishing behind Bodine and Benson at Texas were Mike
Skinner (11th), Hank Parker Jr. (13th), Travis Kvapil
(23rd), Bill Lester (28th), Robert Huffman (29th) and
David Reutimann (30th).
In addition to winning the race, Toyota Tundra drivers
also had a stellar day qualifying for the race, as Mike
Skinner picked up Toyota’s fourth pole position of the
season -- and his 17th career NCTS pole. Unfortunately,
Skinner (engine change) had to move to the rear of the
field before the green flag. Bill Lester (3rd), Hank
Parker Jr. (4th), and Johnny Benson (7th) also qualified
among the top-10.
After 21 2004 races, four Toyota drivers sit among the
top-16 in the NCTS championship point standings. Kvapil
is eighth in the point standings with 2,717 points, just
55 points behinds fifth-place Matt Crafton. Skinner is
11th (2,617 points) in the standings, Reutimann is 14th
(2,483 points) and Parker Jr. is 16th (2,403 points).
Reutimann also tops the Rookie-of-the-Year standings.
The next NCTS race is Saturday, October 23, at
Martinsville Speedway, beginning at 1:00 PM (EST).
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