Bodine Returns to Famed No. 30 Truck in TSM Debut
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 29, 2013) – Two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) champion Todd Bodine will make his debut for Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) at this week’s Truck Series event at Pocono Raceway. Bodine, who captured both the 2006 and 2010 NCWTS titles, will pilot TSM’s No. 30 entry, the same truck number he drove to both championships. The No. 30 Chevrolet Silverado will be crew chiefed by Jimmy Villeneuve and sponsored by Whelen Engineering/Team Fox for the one-race deal.
Bodine, who will be making his 220th NCWTS start this weekend in Pocono, has tallied 22 wins, seven poles, 92 top fives and 124 top 10s in his illustrious career. The Chemung, N.Y. native made his first NCWTS start in the series’ debut season in 1995, running his first full-time season in 2005. Bodine has three previous NCWTS starts at Pocono Raceway with two top-10 starts and two top-15 finishes to his credit. The 49-year-old also has 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at the Tricky Triangle, where he’s earned one pole and two top-10 finishes.
The No. 30 truck has competed in five previous events this season. Kyle Larson drove the No. 30 Chevrolet Silverado to TSM’s first win of the season at Rockingham Speedway in April, in addition to earning the team a runner-up finish last week at Eldora Speedway. Ryan Truex, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Cale Gale have also been behind the wheel for one event each in 2013.
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to drive for Turner Scott Motorsports,” said Bodine. “It’s not very often that you have the opportunity in a one-off race situation to drive for an organization and team that has continued to have such great success. We’re very happy to have Whelen Engineering and Team Fox on board. Owner Sonny Whelen has been a family friend for a long time and has been a big supporter of the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project and the Onion Slice Open since day one. He knows how important the race at Pocono is to me, and when he found out we didn’t have a ride for that event, he stepped up to make it happen. Unfortunately, he has recently developed Parkinson’s disease, and has become very involved in Team Fox for Parkinson’s Research. We’re very proud to have both organizations on the truck, and I’m also very excited to be returning to the No. 30, which has meant a lot to my career.”
“We’re very happy to have two-time champion Todd Bodine behind the wheel of one of our trucks,” said team co-owner Harry Scott Jr. “Todd has been one of the strongest competitors the Truck Series has ever seen, and he is a true example of a series veteran. This is a big weekend for Todd with Pocono being the home of the Onion Slice Open, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
On-track activity at Pocono will begin with practice on Friday, August 2 at 9:00-11:20 a.m. EDT. Qualifying will be held on Saturday, August 3 at 10:00 a.m. EDT, followed by the green flag for the Pocono Mountains 125 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
About Whelen Engineering: A privately owned company, Whelen has experienced positive growth for over 60 years. The pride and commitment of its work force, whose employment longevity averages over 22 years, is rewarded through a profit sharing plan established by the Whelen family since the company was founded. The development of the first aviation light helped launch Whelen into the automotive safety lighting industry as well. Whelen currently provides safety lighting for Police, Fire, EMS, and DOT professionals as well as many other industries. The production volumes seen in the automotive sector have allowed Whelen to invest in the latest automated assembly equipment in order to compete world-wide. Last year, Whelen purchased over 44 million LEDs for use in their extensive family of products. And, the aviation division capitalizes on this state-of-the-art manufacturing and buying power, even with their typically low volume production runs. In the 1970s Whelen introduced the Outdoor Warning Siren … totally electronic and capable of not just warning tones but also high-powered voice messages. The Mass Notification Division has saved lives around the world. For more information, visit www.whelen.com.
About Team Fox/The Michael J. Fox Foundation: Team Fox is the grassroots community fundraising program at The Michael J. Fox Foundation. Each year more than 1,600 Team Fox members worldwide turn their passions and interests into unique fundraising events and athletic feats. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today. For more information, visit www.michaeljfox.org.
About Turner Scott Motorsports: Turner Scott Motorsports was established in 1999 and has become one of the most successful organizations in NASCAR by combining the business acumen and shared passion for racing of co-owners Steve Turner and Harry Scott Jr. This season will mark the fourth season of full-time NASCAR competition for the organization, which expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series. The team earned its first championship when James Buescher captured the NCWTS title in 2012. Turner Scott Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C. The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors’ powerhouse team Hendrick Motorsports, which provides engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. For more information on Turner Scott Motorsports, visit www.TurnerScottMotorsports.com
