NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine retires

Geoff Bodine has not run a NASCAR Sprint Cup race this season. The 63 year old from Chemung, New York is retiring from racing.Bodine last ran at the Sprint Cup level in 2011 driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing. His best finish was a 30th at Homestead.

Bodine ran 575 races at the Sprint Cup level over 27 seasons. He recently told Racing Experts “I hate to use that ‘retirement’ word, but I’m 99.9 percent sure I’ll never drive a racecar again,”

It is a bit surprising that Bodine did not drive in a race this season. Prior to the season starting Bodine announced that he had sponsorship for a few races in the form of Luke Associates and was actively seeking a ride. A ride never panned out for Bodine.

“If you race long enough in racing, you will hit your head,” said Bodine, who has suffered from concussions in racing, “I’ve been in that position several times. I’ve seemed to bounce back from them with very little side effects. [People] might say ‘well, you’re okay,’ but the problem with that is I don’t know what might happen tomorrow when I wake up. I pray every night that I do wake up and I do know who I am. All of my concussions could have some effect on my life.”

In his career Bodine won 18 races at the Sprint Cup level including the first win for Hendrick Motorsports.

“I’m happy with my career, I have no regrets. I’ve accomplished a lot in NASCAR, but because of my accomplishments in NASCAR, I’ve been able to do other things which is what I want to really be known for,” explains Bodine. “My accomplishments in the sport have allowed me to build Olympic gold medal bobsleds. My career allowed me to get involved in many charitable groups and it’s also allowed me to go to the Middle East four times to visit our troops. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave.”

“Racing is the reason I could do all of these things, and my life’s not over, so I think it’s pretty hard to write somebody’s legacy until they’re not here. But that’s what I want to be known for.”

John Boarman
John Boarmanhttp://www.tireball.com
Founder and Owner of Tireball Sports.

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