(Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
In NASCAR, where names like Earnhardt, Gordon, Johnson, Stewart, and Busch are the consistent frontrunners on the Sprint Cup Series circuit, longtime fans may also know of a racing star who jump-started many innovations that were previously thought as tomfoolery.
Not only did this driver bring about the acceptance of the full face helmet and power steering in stock cars, but he gave New England race fans some hope of a leadfooter whose career should not go without merit and praise amongst the Southern Slingers.
That Chemung, New York native is none other than 59-year-old Geoff Bodine who has logged 18 career victories, 38 poles (including the current track record at Atlanta Motor Speedway), 100 top-fives, and 190 top-ten finishes in a career that's spanned over 30 years.
Sure, Bodine's numbers may pale in comparison to legends like Darrell Waltrip, who has 84 career wins, Dale Earnhardt with 76 victories, or Terry Labonte, who has 22 wins.
However, the New Yorker's career is one that is rich in history and memories that NASCAR fans need not forget.
NASCAR fans who may have started following the sport in 2000 probably recognize Bodine as the driver who survived one of the all-time most gruesome crashes in a stock car.
During the season opener for the NASCAR Truck Series, Bodine's No. 15 Ford F-150 truck careened out of control and disintegrated into bits of sheet metal and bent frame work pieces scattered all over the dogleg at Daytona International Speedway.
The truck made contact with not only the outside retaining wall, but also with the catchfence that protects fans from the hazards of the on-track action.
Miraculously Geoff Bodine survived that grinding, horrifying accident at Daytona, returning to the track some five months later, finishing 34th.
Daytona International Speedway would also be the facility of one of Bodine's more pleasant memories in his driving career on February 16, 1986.
That was when Bodine, driving Rick Hendrick's No. five Chevy, captured the 28th annual Daytona 500 in remarkable fashion.
With late race pressure from Earnhardt, the No. three Wrangler Chevy just fell short of truly giving Bodine and Hendrick Motorsports some fits in the conclusion of the event when the Richard Childress Racing machine needed to pit for fuel.
Perhaps the most remarkable achievement by Bodine in his stellar career was his first career win on April 29, 1984, which was also car owner Rick Hendrick's first foray as a winning car owner in NASCAR.
All the stories have been made and heard about Hendrick not being present at Martinsville Speedway on the day that Bodine ushered in the start of this particular Bowtie Brigade's trip to victory lane, and how both parties have prospered quite well since the win that took place 25 years ago.
However, what Rick Hendrick said this past week has to fascinate even a non-fan of the now dominant organization, when he said the following, per a March 29th Yahoo! Sports column by Jay Hart:
"If we had not won that race 25 years ago, Hendrick Motorsports would not be here today."
Imagine NASCAR without Hendrick Motorsports, a multicar organization who started out with relatively meager resources and a driver who was not accepted by the fans due to his allegiance being from "Yankee Nation."
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