Former NASCAR team
Geoff Bodine Racing
(also known as
GEB Racing
) was a
NASCAR
Winston Cup
and
Craftsman Truck Series
team. It was owned and operated by former NASCAR driver
Geoffrey Bodine
following his purchase of the estate of
Alan Kulwicki
.
[1]
He remained owner of the team until the 1998 season, when he sold the operation to Jim Mattei and John Porter. Through the chain of succession, the team's final owner was
Robby Gordon
.
[2]
Winston Cup
[
edit
]
In
1993
, Bodine, who was driving for
Bud Moore Engineering
at the time, decided to become an owner-driver. Earlier in the season, then-defending Winston Cup Champion
Alan Kulwicki
, who owned and drove for
AK Racing
, was killed in a
plane crash
as the Cup Series made its spring trip to
Bristol
.
Bodine was able to raise enough money to purchase the assets of Kulwicki’s former team from its caretaker,
Felix Sabates
, who had been providing financial backing so the team could continue running. However, he immediately ran into a problem as Kulwicki’s sponsor,
Hooters
, pulled out of the team immediately after Bodine took ownership. Undaunted, Bodine signed
The Family Channel
to be the sponsor for the remainder of the season. After The Family Channel moved over to
Roush Racing
for the next year, Bodine got
Exide Batteries
to sponsor his effort in
1994
. Bodine won three times that year but finished 17th in points. He also won the
1994 Winston Select
. He almost won the inaugural running of the Brickyard 400 before he got into a controversial incident with younger brother
Brett Bodine
where Brett wrecked Geoff out of the lead; Geoff responded by publicly announcing to the press that he and Brett were feuding in their personal lives. Two weeks later, Geoff's wife moved out of the house and filed for divorce, resulting in a downward spiral for Bodine. Later that year, Geoff won at North Wilkesboro which was the last time the race winner lapped the entire field. Bodine improved one spot better in
1995
, although he struggled in several races and went winless. Bodine would later publicly admit that his ongoing divorce was impacting his ability to drive competitively and made several changes to the racing operations.
In
1996
, after Exide moved to Roush, Bodine ran with
QVC
sponsorship and scored his final win at
Watkins Glen International Raceway
. He struggled in
1997
, failing to qualify in a couple of races, and having his brother
Todd
fill in for him at the
Coca-Cola 600
. Despite this, he won two poles in the last two months of the season, including one that broke the track record at
Atlanta Motor Speedway
.
In
1998
, he sold part of his ownership to Mattei and Porter, and picked up sponsorship from
Philips
. When Bodine got an offer to drive for
Joe Bessey
in
1999
, he sold the rest of his team and was replaced by
Michael Waltrip
, as the team switched to
Chevrolet
. Finishing 5th in the
Daytona 500
, Waltrip finished the year 29th in points. Getting sponsorship from
NationsRent
in
2000
, Waltrip's only top-ten finish that year was a 3rd at
Martinsville
. He left at the end of the year for
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
and
Mike Wallace
took over, while the team switched back to Ford.
[3]
During the 2000 season, the team was sold to
Ultra Motorsports
.
Craftsman Truck Series
[
edit
]
Bodine Racing began racing in the new Truck Series in
1995
, when Bodine drove ten races in the No. 7, with Exide sponsorship. He shared the ride with
Dave Rezendes
, who raced eleven times that season; together, they combined for fourteen top-ten finishes. Bodine's son
Barry
drove the No. 07
Tanya Tucker Salsa
truck at Martinsville, but he crashed out. Rezendes raced the No. 7 full-time in
1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
with QVC sponsoring, and he responded with three victories and a sixth-place finish in points. Bodine and Barry drove the 07 in six races, but only had one pole and top-ten.
Due to a lack of sponsorship, Rezendes was let go after two races in
1997
.
Tammy Jo Kirk
took his place with Loveable sponsorship, becoming the first full-time
female driver
on the circuit.
[4]
She had a best finish of 11th, but was let go late in the season, and Barry Bodine finished out the season. The team closed in 1998 due to a lack of sponsorship.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Zeller, Bob (May 10, 1993).
"Announcement Expected to Be Made Today\ Bodine Reportedly Buys Kulwicki's Racing Team"
.
News & Record
. Retrieved
June 21,
2020
.
- ^
Pearce, Al (September 12, 2000).
"Owner Bessey Fires Geoffrey Bodine; He'll Finish the Season As the Driver"
.
Daily Press
. Retrieved
June 21,
2020
.
- ^
Smith, Steven Cole (February 4, 2020).
"Stream 'Blink of an Eye,' a Documentary About Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, and NASCAR, on the MotorTrend App Starting Now!"
.
Motor Trend
. Retrieved
June 21,
2020
.
- ^
Rockne, Dick (May 10, 1997).
"Tammy Jo Kirk Won't Dim Her Lights -- First Woman In Truck Series Breaks Ground"
.
The Seattle Times
. Retrieved
June 21,
2020
.
External links
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Years active
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- 1993?1998 (Geoff Bodine Racing)
- 1999?2000 (Mattei Motorsports)
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Personnel
| Geoff Bodine Racing
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Mattei Motorsports
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Former drivers
| Geoff Bodine Racing
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Mattei Motorsports
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The Winston Select
wins
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Predecessor teams
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Buyouts and mergers
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Bodine family
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First generation
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Second generation
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Teams
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