Bodine put on probation for careless driving

Elwood · October 16, 2002

By JENNA FRYER

AP Sports Writer

October 16, 2002

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Todd Bodine was placed on probation Wednesday by NASCAR for careless driving that triggered a multi-car accident at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Bodine, driver of the No. 26 Ford, is on probation until Dec. 31, If there is another action this season that NASCAR officials deem detrimental or disruptive to a race, he will receive an indefinite suspension.

``We've noticed numerous on-track incidents involving Todd, and we felt this was the proper step to take at this time,'' Winston Cup director John Darby said.

Bodine was heavily criticized for his role in the wreck Sunday in the UAW-GM Quality 500. He made a move to the inside of Ward Burton and Jeff Green, who already were running side by side down the frontstretch, but Bodine's left-side tires touched the infield grass and his car careened out of control.

Bodine hit Burton, who hit Green, and soon about 10 more cars -- including all three from Richard Childress Racing -- were involved.

``That's about the eighth car Todd Bodine has totaled for my team this year,'' Childress said after the wreck. ``It's time NASCAR reviews some of these drivers who are constantly causing all the crashes. Todd does something stupid every week.''

Bodine argued after the wreck that his actions were caused by Burton and Green, who were racing so aggressively off turn four that Bodine either had to slow to avoid running into them or make the move toward the grass.

``I didn't have time to put the brakes on and slow down because I had such a run going, so I went under him,'' he said. ``When I got to the tri-oval, there was the grass.

``I know everybody is going to blame me for it ... not taking my time, not the right thing to be doing. I'm not going to take the blame. It was a racing deal.''

Also penalized Wednesday was Tommy Baldwin, fined $25,000 because his Busch series car driven by Wally Dallenbach did not meet the minimum height requirement after Saturday's race.

Mike Ford, crew chief for Bill Elliott, was fined $2,000 because a team member went on to pit road Sunday without wearing a helmet.

I'm not a Bodine fan, personally I've seen him and his brothers do hundreds of stupid things over the years, but I don't know about this one. I mean yes, it was a bad move, but I've seen other people do it and get praised for their guts when it worked. Oh well.

October 17, 2002

Todd bodine's aggressiveness is much higher than his talent. I agree with Richard Childress, it seems like he causes a "racing deal" nearly every race! Some drivers can make those tricky moves work, but when you are running a mid-pack car with a mediocre driver, slowing for one run down the straight is more sensible. But then again, if he was more sensible, maybe he'd be in a better car or have the good sense to realize that he's out of his league.

Personally, I don't think that he is nearly good enough to run a WC car.

Elwood · October 17, 2002

I feel the same way about his talent. I just thought it was odd, that they would say something about that when everybody does, when they've never said anything about all the other stupid stuff he does.

silverado3500 · October 17, 2002

I think that this may have been "The Straw that broke the camel's back" and this is why Bodine's recklessness, whether intentional or not, is being addressed by Nascar. He has done many other dangerous moves, but this one was far worse. its one thing to bump and trade paint with other cars, but to cause a 10 car pileup because you forgot where the track ended and the grass begins is inexcusable.

General Lee 01 · October 17, 2002

I just thought it was odd, that they would say something about that when everybody does, when they've never said anything about all the other stupid stuff he does.

I think all the other stupid stuff he's done was overlooked because 99% of the time, his other crap just screwed him up, and not half the field. But when he did something that messed up 1/3 of the field, something had to be done.

But I will say this. if he was 100% Un-Talented, then it must not have been him in the #26 at Talladega. Cause that was one helluva save.

He's got the Talent, just not the brains to fill it to it's full potential.

Shadowfax · October 17, 2002

I agree, but I think his post wreck comments had more to do with his probation than the wreck itself and his past history. Just somthing to mull over. He kinda broke the new NASCAR policy by actually showing his emotions lol.