Catchfence

Homestead, FL (11-19-2010) – Friday night, Todd Bodine put the No. 30 Germain.com Tundra where it has been so many times this season – at the front of the field. He led 18 laps and finished fourth in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The scenario might sound familiar to fans of Germain Racing and Todd Bodine as the No. 30 Tundra has led laps in 14 races this season and finished in the top-five on 17 occasions, including four victories. When the checkered flag waved the 2010 season to a close after 134 laps of racing at Homestead, the focus for Bodine and Germain Racing turned from winning races to celebrating a great season and their second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship.

“Year after year, we consistently win and run up front. It shows the character of this Germain Racing team and what it’s about. To do this year in, year out it shows the character and what we’re all about. We never give up. We’ve had turnover in five years, but Mike Hillman Jr. (crew chief) and Mike Hillman Sr. (General Manager) have a knack for finding good people. We’ve lost good people and they find good people to replace them. In the five years between our championships we never faltered, we never gave up. Last year, we should’ve given up, but we didn’t, and here we are, champions again,” said Bodine, who is the third driver in Truck Series history to earn multiple titles as well as the third driver to have clinched his title before the season ended

Team owner Bob Germain Jr. explained that this championship, certainly had a different feel than their first title win in 2006.

“In 2006 we were in a position where we were almost expected to win the championship. In 2009, we raced on a week to week basis and I really don’t think it worked very well. So, when we started 2010, we made a commitment to the team that we were going to run for a championship. We made the commitment to run every race. From that point, Todd, Mike Jr. and the guys took over and got it done,” explained Bob Germain, team owner of Germain Racing.

“We weren’t expected to win in 2010. But these guys worked so hard every week. We went to the track each week with the best stuff we’ve had in a long time. Mike Hillman Jr. worked through so much this season with personal issues and his injury, but Todd and Mike stayed focused, worked hard every week and I appreciate it. This championship…Mike Jr. had a lot to do with it, I think.”

Bodine agreed with Germain but crew chief Hillman Jr. clarified that the results of this season were the result of a combined effort of team and driver.

“I’m the lucky guy that gets called a crew chief. I’m blessed to be surrounded by the people that I’m surrounded by. Todd drives his butt off every week and gives us 110 percent. It’s amazing what we’ve accomplished. We weren’t sure where Germain Racing was headed when we left Homestead last year. Bob, Steve and Rick told us to go get another championship. They put their faith in us, and we were able to do what they asked for. It’s really awesome to be able to sit here and do this again,” explained Hillman Jr. “My guys on the 30 truck, they poured their heart into every truck we built this season. The pit stops this season were nothing short of amazing and we had great support from people who work at the shop at Germain Racing. This championship is because of all their hard work and I appreciate it.”

Bodine talked about the sense of pride in racing a truck bearing the Germain name.

“We’re proud to be able to go out every week and represent the Germain family with Germain Motor Company on the side of that truck. To be able to come out of here champions, there’s nothing better than for us to be able to do that for them,” explained Bodine.

Steve Germain summarized the season expressing confidence that the celebration of this second Truck Series championship will not be the last of successes that Germain Racing will celebrate.

“We know the mistakes we made in 2009 and we didn’t repeat those in 2010. There’s no reason for us to go back to doing anything but having a championship team again next year. We’ve got a lot of momentum and we’ve got a great team. So next year I think you’ll see us do even better,” explained Germain. “I’ve never seen a team so determined as the 30 Tundra team this season. They were on a mission. Well, mission accomplished.”

Germain Racing scored four wins, 17 top five and 20 top ten finishes in the 2010 season. By winning four races, they became the second team in Truck Series history to earn multiple wins for seven consecutive seasons.

For more on Germain Racing, visit GermainRacing.com.

- Germain Racing Press Release