Todd's article on Nascar.com

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Bodine doesn't agree with punishment
By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive October 18, 2002
12:52 PM EDT (1652 GMT)




MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Todd Bodine, placed on probation by NASCAR for careless driving this week after starting a multi-car accident Sunday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, said Friday that the punishment was a bit too harsh.



Todd Bodine Credit: Autostock

"You've got to have a punishment that fits the crime," said Bodine, who will remain on probation through Dec. 31. "If this was standard punishment for this crime, then I would understand it a little better.

"There isn't a driver on the track that hasn't made a mistake, and then there are some that have made big ones like I did. If they had the same punishment, so be it."

The incident, which involved 10 cars, occurred on lap 230 during last Sunday's UAW-GM Quality 500. Bodine dove low into the double-dogleg to pass Ward Burton, but got a bit too low into the wet grass with his left tires and lost control of the No. 26 Ford.

He slid up the track into Burton, who then slammed into Jeff Green. From there, the melee was on.

NASCAR cited him for reckless driving, and said if there is another action this season that NASCAR officials deem detrimental or disruptive to a race, he will receive an indefinite suspension.


Todd Bodine's No. 26 Ford suffered heavy damage on lap 230 on Sunday. Credit: Autostock
"NASCAR has its opinion and they felt this was what was necessary," Bodine said. "Do we agree with it? No. Do some people agree with it? Probably. I feel like I made a mistake in judgement.

"It wasn't a thing where I said, 'Hey, I'm gonna go three-wide and pass both of these guys because they're messing around.' I was going to run into Ward or I was going to go below him."

Bodine doesn't feel his decision to dive beneath Burton was a mistake. In his opinion, the mistake was giving Burton too much racing room.

"The mistake I made was I gave (Burton) too much room and got in the grass," Bodine said. "I've only watched the tape once and it made me sick to my stomach to watch it because I feel that bad about it.

"I tried to give them plenty of room so I wouldn't get into them. I was trying to do the right thing, but it ended up I was too far over and into the grass. It wasn't intentional."

Bodine is concerned he's being blamed for accidents, even when they're not his fault.

VIDEO CLIPS
One slip damages 10 cars at Lowe's.
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ALSO
• Bodine's Driver Page





"I've been involved in some accidents -- there have been three in Winston Cup and four or five in Busch, but there have been only two times where I've made the mistake that caused the wreck," Bodine said. "I think in some incidents when a driver get in an accident and then goes on TV and runs their mouth, it has a ripple effect.

"People remember that for a long time. So, the next time Todd Bodine is involved in an accident it's like 'He's always in something.'"

Now, Bodine must tackle the tight confines of Martinsville. Trouble finds you here.

"I've got to put it all out of my head and do what I normally do and what I've been trying to do and that's race clean and courteous," Bodine said. "I've tried to do that right things and that's what I've got to go out and continue to do.

"The only way to get respect back is by earning it and I feel like I've got to earn it."
 
He's exactly right.

And, if someone believes that NASCAR did this because other drivers complained I've got a bridge to sell ya.
 
Originally posted by paul
He's exactly right.

And, if someone believes that NASCAR did this because other drivers complained I've got a bridge to sell ya.
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I just want to know who those drivers are........I have an idea about at least one, but hestitate to say because I know someone will hit the roof.:)
 
I believe the drivers did complain and have that info on pretty good authority. Not some media article.

Amazingly, or mebbe not, if a driver/owner or such has something negative to say about NASCAR, they are of course correct.

To support or defend NASCAR or its decisions is toeing the company line and sucking up.

Too predictable.
 
I wonder if he's the type to complain like that. I know his brother is, but I think he's a different kinda person.

I've seen Harvick make some of the most aggressive moves ever. Moves that were intended to wreck and that's it. However, he was adopted as everyone's new favorite for no good reason but the name of the driver he replaced.

Todd went too low and got into the grass. He didn't deliberately wreck anyone.
 
drove too hard into a corner and ended up wrecking or wrecking somebody else- Todd would be on top of the list with nobody even close in second......:(
 
Seriously, this isn't a bash in any way...but...

Why are the majority of Bodine haters Earnhardt fans? That just stinks of you know what...
 
I've never seen Todd deliberlately wreck anyone. I've seen bone headed moves but those moves were an honest attempt to pass someone.......risk taker he is, wrecker he is not.

Unlike Paul, HS, I believe there were complaints about Todd from, at least one driver (probably two). Both those drivers have have had more than their fair share of "bad luck"......Todd was an easy target. He has also had some rather tough luck, too.

Just to set the record straight. I am no Todd Bodine fan. In fact I'm not Bodine fan period. That "anti Bodine" stance stems from years ago and the older brother, Geoff. Todd and Brett suffer from my prejudice. But, even I can see that Todd is not guilty of anything almost (every?) driver is not also guilty of.
 
kevin,Tony,and Kurt take a break,we have a new person to set in the dunkin booth,but not to worry Jimmy Spencer is just yearning for some attention. :rolleyes: Look out Johnny Benson you may have a bullseye on you.:rolleyes:
 
I don't believe he wrecks people on purpose. I got to admit Harvick has (not anymore though). I just beleive that he is just one of those guys that has bad luck. Alot of the times he is in the wrong place and the wrong time. Because he has been involved, even though he might not be at fault, so many times he seems to be labeled as one who wrecks often. Everybody makes fun of him because of it, that includes me. It is wrong though.
 
There's another driver that seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time........"always getting caught up in someone else's mess". No one labels him as a "wrecker". Wonder why.:(
 
Originally posted by paul
Who?
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Are kidding Paul? I have a hard enough time on this forum without naming names!!:)

I'm trying not to be in the middle of some controversy because so many people get really upset when I voice what I beleive to be an honest (relatively) objective opinion. I think you know who I'm talking about.
 
Whatever then.

Guess I close the place down.

Who cares if people get upset? I say whatever the hell I want and people go storming off in hissy fits nearly daily.
 
Are you saying Stewart? He isn't involved in as many incidents as Bodine is. It seems Stewart is involved in off-track crap.
 
And that excuse just might be legitimate. It sure looked to me like Ward and Green slowed. Todd only had a split second to do something......he chose low (mistake in the outcome). But he had no idea that Green and Ward would move up (push?). He was commited by that time. He had a choice: Run into Ward, or move lower. As it turned out, he should have just held his line.......might have tapped Ward (he'd got blamed for that too) or he might have not touched and it would have been a great pass!! Arm chair drivers always have the advantage. Todd caused the wreck.........but circumstances played as much into it as he did. Just my opinions.
Come on Wrang man its friday. :)
 
Originally posted by DE Wrangler 2

I'm trying not to be in the middle of some controversy because so many people get really upset when I voice what I beleive to be an honest (relatively) objective opinion.  I think you know who I'm talking about.
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Also, aren't you the same DEW that got pissed at me because I would bash Jr too much? :p

No one here stops you from saying what you want, it's time to stop making that accusation.
 
Originally posted by paul
Whatever then.

Guess I close the place down.

Who cares if people get upset?  I say whatever the hell I want and people go storming off in hissy fits nearly daily.
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Okay, point taken.......I stay in hot water with most here anyway!!:)

Ward Burton.......he wrecks way more than he should. Yes, it appears he is just caught up in someone else's mess. I can relate back to last year at California (I was there and saw it between turn 3 and 4). Mark ran into the back of him. Just a few races ago Jr ran into the back of him. And last weekend Todd didn't run into the back of him but tired to avoid doing so. In every instance, the drivers who caused Ward to wreck say he slowed down. Just for the sake of argument......is Ward a wrecker too?

Now for the war!!:)
 
Hehe...

Anyway, which driver was it that said, "There are only 40 of us who do this"?

I don't think any of the wreck on purpose but I say that two drivers have crossed the line. Earnhardt and Harvick. The incident with T. Labonte makes my blood boil. And all of Harvick's year last year was just plowing his way to the front, straight over people.

Do these guys go out there and try to wreck the person in front of them? No. Do the make mistakes? Yes.
 
Originally posted by paul
Also, aren't you the same DEW that got pissed at me because I would bash Jr too much? :p

No one here stops you from saying what you want, it's time to stop making that accusation.
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No.........that is not me. I got pissed because you insist on putting me into a group of "pompom wavers" that I'm not in. And the most recent was labeling me as a leader of the "DEW gang". I don't care if you bash Jr.......he deserves a lot of it. But I don't deserve the labels.

I suppose we are going to get pissed all over again now. Hope not, Paul.:)
 
Nah, and even if we did get pissed...we'd just end up forgetting about it for a while and then getting pissed somewhere down the road about something else. A good fight every once in a while is healthy.

That's life. :)
 
But I really don't think I ever once thought you to be one of the pompom wavers, and I mean that.

Did I ever say it?
 
Good ol Friday night shoot out,I love it.I gotta get me one of these here forums.:p
 
Yep you did.

But I can forgive.........IF, the next time you do it and dispute you you don't go off on some tangent.

Fair enough?
 
Deal.....IF you can link to the thread where I said it. Or at least remind me of the conversation.
 
(rolling up sleeves)

No doubt about it, Ward has had more than his share of bent up race cars this year. I think the reason he doesn't get labeled as a "wrecker" is that, in well over 90% of these instances, he gets hit from behind. Bristol. Charlotte. The mess with Nadeau a coupla weeks back (forget which track, sorry.) Some of it is simple bad luck on his part. Some of it is he is running with guys he has no business running with. Some of it is his fault, and when I see it I call it.

Junior marauded him at Bristol. End of story. Blatant and obvious.

Nadeau made a mistake, Ward happened to be there when he did. Big difference.

Todd goofed up, but as I have said at least twice in here, that's racin. Nothing I saw leads me to believe he did anything intentional to take anyone out. He tried to capitalize on the situation presented to him. Last time I checked, that's called a car race.

I'll be the last person on earth to call Ward Burton blameless. But I will also wager that he has been wrecked far more often than he has caused wrecks. This year in particular.
 
Originally posted by paul
Deal.....IF you can link to the thread where I said it.  Or at least remind me of the conversation.
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Got my little note pad right here!!:D
 
I guess I never got an answer to this but am I considered in DE gang?
 
TWF.....I'm a closet Ward fan. Just pointing out that maybe Ward is possibly (emphasis on that word) part of the problem. Every time someone runs into Ward, the offending driver says the same time....."he slowed". Comes a point when you must wonder if the whole world looks upset down, who's standing on their head. Not bashing Ward in any way. He's way too good a driver to be so far back in the points. Not just this year.......for, at least, two years that I've been watching him have this unbeleivable run of "bad luck".

Maybe it's his driving style.......I don't know.
 
TnWard,Maybe Ward is a back seat driver,and needs to tag team with I can't see out the back window Mark.:p
 
Just to be sure nooone misunderstand, I am not off in ahissy. The grandkids have shown up.

For the record. Several drivers presented their case to NASCAR on Todd. NASCAR then contacted other drivers to solicit their opinion on the issue, plus reviewed incidents in both WC and BGN races this season. The common thread seemed to be that Todd was making others nervous, some drivers were trying to stay clear as much as humanly possible. Label it whining if you wish. It is not the first time drivers have voiced these opinons privately on other competitors.

NASCAR felt it had to make some kind of move. The least harmful path open to them was "probation". Many drivers have been on probation before, it hardly spells disaster to anyones season, and never has. If Todd is involved in another incident it does not necessarily mean ths his "probation" has been violated.

Try to put yourself in charge of NASCAR, What would you do? Between the drivers lines is the likelihood that matters might be resolved by less official means.

It just seems that NASCAR is damned if they do and damned if they don't.
 
Originally posted by paul
Nah, and even if we did get pissed...we'd just end up forgetting about it for a while and then getting pissed somewhere down the road about something else.  A good fight every once in a while is healthy.  

That's life. :)
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Well...............I am glad we are one big happy family again, as families do, they disagree and fight like we all do in here......hope we all have this behind us now and can start fresh......
there is no other forum like yours Paul........good moderaters, good people...thanks
Rayna
 
HS......I also read a couple articles saying pretty much the same thing. Todd does seem to have more than his fair share of "mistakes". And, I've been around long enough to know that probation does not mean the driver is doomed. Guess what I'm concerned about is what seems to be an over reaction on the fan base of NASCAR about Todd's driving ability. Other drivers that express their concerns privately is fine. But I heard one driver last weekend (Jeff Green) express his concern quite publicly. Ward was also very upset. That does not bode well with all these new fans NASCAR has gathered up lately.....most don't understand the nature of the sport (I'm talking about the new fans, not fans who have been around before the NASCAR fad). NASCAR is in a pecular position. I just hate to see fans turn on any driver because they percieve the probation NASCAR put on Todd as a sign that he's not a worthy driver in the series. I don't know what to do about it except maybe try to point out that drivers are human and make mistakes......have bad seasons, etc.
 
AAAHHH, group Hug and PURRRRRRRRRRR

TODD, what can I say.......TS and well deserved.

Do y'all think he needs some cheese with that whine?
 
I think you are on the same page as most Wrang man.And scrab you always seem to put things into perspective.The truth you say is Damn if they do,and damned if they don't.But Nascar is like a click in high school these days.I question the actions,and standards of the family that rules the judging of the rules as fast as they change to accomidate the pop fans.;)
 
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