Catchfence

Geoffrey Bodine - Tommy Baldwin Racing

Race: Kobalt Tools 500
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: 35 of 36
Track: Phoenix International Raceway
Track Length: 1 mile
Date: November 13, 2011

Geoffrey Bodine will pilot the No. 36 Luke & Associates Chevrolet this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). The Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) machine is locked into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Kobalt Tools 500.

TEAM SWAP – TBR drivers Blaney and Geoffrey Bodine swapped numbers and crews at Texas Motor Speedway in an effort to continue to build TBR and give the team the best chance to qualify both cars for the remainder of the season. Geoffrey Bodine will pilot the No. 36 Luke & Associates Chevrolet and is guaranteed a starting spot in Sunday’s 312-mile race. Dave Blaney will drive the No. 35 Golden Corral Chevrolet and attempt to qualify for the Kobalt Tools 500.

CHASSIS NO. 910 – Bodine will pilot the No. 910 chassis this weekend. TBR last ran this chassis at Dover in September. Blaney also drove the chassis at Auto Club Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Pocono Raceway and Dover International Speedway. He wheeled the chassis to a chassis-high 24th-place finish at Darlington in May.

TBR at Texas:
Five NSCS Starts
Best Start: 32nd | Dave Blaney | November 2010
Best Finish: 36th | Scott Riggs | April 2009

Last TBR Race:
AAA Texas 500| Texas Motor Speedway:
Bodine started the AAA Texas 500 from the 42nd position. He drove his No. 36 Luke & Associates Chevrolet into the 37th spot before Brian Vickers got into the rear of the TBR machine, sending Bodine spinning. The crew tried to fix the damage, but by lap 230, the No. 36 retired from the race due to a vibration. The team finished 38th in the event.

Geoffrey Bodine at Texas:
12 NSCS Starts:
Top-10 FInishes: 6 (1997, 1996, 1994, 1991, 1990, 1988)
Poles: 2 (1998 ,1991)
Best Start: 1st | Nov. 1998, Nov. 1991
Best Finish: 6th | Nov. 1998, Oct. 1996

Luke and Associates:

This weekend will mark the third start for Luke & Associates as a primary sponsor. The Florida-based company adorned the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet as an associate partner since July. Luke & Associates, Inc. is one of the largest providers of healthcare for the U.S. military and is rapidly expanding into national and local healthcare systems. Headquartered on the Space Coast of Florida, Luke formed in 2004 and has grown exponentially in the last six years. The company now has more than 1,300 medical and support personnel worldwide.

In the Points: The No. 36 team fell to 33rd in the NSCS Owners Point Standings. The team is 28 points ahead of the No. 32 and seven points behind the No. 13. They are locked into the top-35 by 55 points.

Two Chances for Kids Eat Free: Bodine will join Blaney in his season-long effort to tally top-10 finishes. If either driver finishes in the top-10 this weekend in Texas, kids eat free (with an adult purchase) on Monday, November 14th. Golden Corral will also donate $5,000 to the DAV.

Geoffrey Bodine Quotes:

On Racing at Phoenix: “I’m excited to go to Phoenix. We had a great time last weekend at Texas. We came up here for the test. Unfortunately, we wrecked early in practice, but I got a good feel for the new layout of the track. My goal this weekend is to log more laps and be there at the end. This weekend is special to me as a veteran. I am thrilled to represent all the veterans and current military with a sponsor like Luke. They are very active in the military and do a lot for our troops.”

Tommy Baldwin Quotes:

On this Weekend: “I’m excited for this weekend. We came here for the test a few weeks ago and made some strides. I really like the new layout. Hopefully, we can get both cars in the show like last week.”

- Tommy Baldwin Racing, Press Release