Catchfence

Mooresville, N.C.(03-28-2009) – Todd Bodine and the No. 30 Germain.com Tundra started sixth in Saturday’s Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Rain on Friday washed out NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying and the field was set based on last year’s team owners’ points. Bodine and the crew had been tight through the center of the corners throughout both practice sessions on Friday and started Saturday’s 250-lap race fighting the same condition.

“We struggled with the Germain.com Tundra not having forward bite, being tight in the center of the corners and snapping loose in practice. The truck was the same at the start of the race, but the guys on pit road adjusted on it and made it drive better,” said Bodine, who slipped out of the top-ten early in the race while fighting the ill-handling conditions.

Bodine was able to bring the Germain.com Tundra to pit road for fresh tires and a significant adjustment to the left rearshock absorber at lap 75. He returned for another set of fresh tires at lap 135. The changes improved the race truck and might have resulted in the Germain.com Tundra earning another top-five finish at Martinsville if not for some tough luck.

“The truck was really good after the crew adjusted on it. It was still a little tight in the middle but it was running pretty good. I’m quite sure if we could’ve stayed out of trouble we would’ve been in the top-five,” said Bodine, who had raced his way back into the top-ten and was scored just inside the top-five during the pit sequence for the team’s last four-tire pit stop at lap 135.

Following the final four-tire stop, the Germain.com Tundra was sent to the tail end of the lead lap because Bodine was assessed a penalty for driving too fast exiting pit road. This penalty put Bodine back to 18th-place and provided the setup for the tough luck that took the Germain.com Tundra out of the race after 173 laps of racing.

“The Germain.com Tundra pit crew had a good four-tire pit stop. NASCAR said Todd just got into the gas a little too hard leaving pit road. The speeding penalty sent us to the tail end. Even with the loss of track position, we were still looking at a top-ten, maybe a top-five finish for the Germain.com Tundra,” explained crew chief Mike Hillman Jr.

While racing his way back toward the front of the field, Bodine made hard contact with the No. 47 truck as it came to a sudden and almost complete stop in the center groove of the race track. The contact didn’t draw another caution flag but the damage overheated the motor and ended the race for the Germain.com Tundra. Bodine was credited with a 30th place finish and slipped to third in points while Kevin Harvick took the race win.

Germain Racing’s No. 30 Germain.com Tundra competes next on Friday night, April 2nd, at Nashville Superspeedway. The 150 lap race is a one-day show with practice at 11 A.M. ET, qualifying at 5 P.M. and racing at 8 P.M. Watch the action on SPEED or tune your radio to your local MRN affiliate.

For all your car or truck buying needs, visit Germain.com.

- Germain Racing Press Release