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CONCORD, NC (20 February 2006) What a weekend for Todd Bodine and the No. 30 iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations Racing Toyota Tundra Team as they came close to winning their fourth consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the season opener at Daytona. Bodine did everything he could to catch race winner Mark Martin on the final laps of the GM FlexFuel 250 at Daytona. With 90,000 fans on their feet the race came down to a green-white-checkered shootout but Ron Hornaday was hit from behind and went sideways coming to the starting line, ending the green-white-checkered finish and Bodine's hopes for his fourth win.
"Yeah, we would have had four in a row," said Bodine. "You know what, I'll take second. It's a great way to start in the points. Our No. 30 iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations Toyota Tundra was a little out of control, but it wasn't too bad. Mark's truck was just incredibly fast. The green-white-checkered is part of NASCAR's rules and it's their ballpark so it's their rules. I think it's a good rule other than tonight. It works really well, it just didn't happen to work for us."
Starting his No. 30 iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations Toyota Tundra in the eighth starting spot it didn't take Bodine long to start making his way to the front by the first caution of the race on lap 27. Bodine had moved himself into the fourth spot. He came in the pits under the caution for air pressure adjustment, tires, and fuel. The No. 30 iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations Toyota Tundra pit crew got Bodine out of the pits with a quick pit stop putting him in the second place spot coming out of the pits. When the field went back to green flag action, Bodine started in second. On lap 40, Bodine made his move to the front passing the No. 5 Tundra of race leader Mike Skinner for the lead.
Mark Martin than took the lead from Bodine on lap 41 leaving him to drop back to the fifth spot. The second caution of the race came on lap 44 when Nos. 16, 22, 25 and 47 had an accident off of turn-two. While under the yellow Bodine came in the pits for four tires and fuel. The field went back to green flag action on lap 47. Bodine had moved back into the fourth spot. By lap 49, he was back in the second position with team mate Ted Musgrave right with him.
On lap 74, the caution flew for the third time of the race when the Nos. 12, 15, 29, 47, 59, 75 and 88 had the big wreck off turn four. Under the caution Bodine pitted, getting tires, fuel, and air pressure adjustment. It was another great pit stop from the No. 30 iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations Toyota Tundra pit crew who helped get Bodine out in front of the field giving him the lead. He lead the field to green flag action leading five laps, until Mark Martin took the lead back from Bodine on lap 81. Bodine would fall back to 13th on lap 85 but worked his was back to second by lap 90. With his eyes set on race leader Mark Martin and team mate Ted Musgrave behind him in third ready to help push him to the front; both Bodine and Musgrave were waiting for the right time to take lead from Martin. Then on lap 98, the caution flew for the fourth time after the No. 17 and No. 77 got into an accident in turn four. The race came down to a green-white-checkered finish as the green flag flew on lap 100, but another wreck occurred when the No. 15 of Kyle Krisiloff bumped the No. 33 of Ron Hornaday causing an accident on the front stretch, ending the race under yellow and Bodine's hopes for a fourth consecutive win.
Awards: Todd picked up the Mobile 1 Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race Award.
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