BODINE TO DRIVE TRUCK RACE FOR RED HORSE RACING

Two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Todd Bodine has landed a ride for the Daytona truck race.  Bodine will join Red Horse Racing and pilot the #11 Camping World/Good Sam Toyota.  As of right now, the deal is for Daytona only, but plans could change if sponsorship becomes available.  Bodine will be a teammate to Timothy Peters who will return to wheel the #17 Toyota.

Bodine and Germain Racing joined forces to win the 2006 and 2010 truck championships.  Germain let Bodine go after the team announced late in 2011 that they would not be returning to truck competition in 2012.  Germain Racing plans to focus their attention on their Cup program with Casey Mears and the Geico Ford.

I think this a great opportunity for Todd.  I hope that he has a good run in the race so that he can run the full season.  I believe that if Red Horse Racing wants to be around in the years to come, they will have to field a second team on a permanent basis.  I realize that they put two trucks on the track last year, but Miguel Paludo results weren’t that great.  Putting a champion driver like Todd Bodine behind the wheel will not only help with obtaining better results on the track, but it may also help attract the sponsorship needed to compete every week.  What do you think of this story?

HORNISH WILL DRIVE #12 DODGE IN FULL NATIONWIDE SLATE

Sam Hornish Jr. will continue to drive the Penske Racing #12 Dodge in Nationwide competition in 2012.  During the preseason media tour, the team announced that Hornish will drive the #12 with sponsorship from Alliance Truck Parts and The Wurth Group.  Alliance Truck Parts was the sponsor of Hornish’s part-time effort in the Nationwide Series in 2011.  Hornish took the company to victory lane in November at Phoenix International Speedway.  Alliance will increase their support of the #12 team from six to 26 races during the season.  The Wurth Group, a new partner of the Penske Racing family, will back the team in the other 7 events on the schedule.  Hornish will be paired with teammates Brad Keselowski and Parker Kligerman, who will each split the season in the team’s other car, the #22 Dodge.

I feel like this a great opportunity for Sam to get his NASCAR career back on track.  After a few lackluster years in the Sprint Cup Series, its nice to see that Roger Penske is committed to seeing Sam succeed as a NASCAR driver, I think winning the race last year only proves that Sam has the desire and determination to be at the top of the NASCAR ranks.  I think that Sam will only continue to improve as he gets more laps under his belt and he could possibly be considered as one of the dark horse candidates to take home the 2012 Nationwide Series title.  What Do you think of this story?

TBR, STEWART-HAAS TEAM TO FIELD #10 CAR

Tommy Baldwin Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing have teamed up to field the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet that Danica Patrick will drive in 2012.  Under the terms of the partnership, the points from TBR’s #36 car, which finished 33^rd in 2011 points, will be transferred to the #10 car, guaranteeing that Patrick will compete in the Daytona 500.  Dave Blaney, who drives the #36 car, will now have to qualify for the first five races of the season.  Patrick will compete in ten races for Tommy Baldwin Racing.  David Reutimann will drive the #10 car during the race weekends in which Patrick doesn’t compete in the Cup race.  In return for the points, Stewart Haas has agreed to give Tommy Baldwin Racing technical and pit crew support. 

I wasn’t happy to find out that this deal had taken place when it was first announced, but I do understand that it will only help both teams.  I feel bad for Dave Blaney because he worked hard to get his car locked into the races for this season and then to have it all taken away must be so disheartening.  Both teams will benefit because having the Stewart-Haas assistance will only help TBR’s cars and crews get faster.  By not having to field a third team, Stewart-Haas can remain focused on trying to bring home another title with either Tony Stewart or Ryan Newman.  What do you think about this story?