Truckin’ Thursdays: Todd Bodine Makes NASCAR Truck Series Return at Las Vegas

The last time Todd Bodine raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series was 2013 when he ran just seven events for ThorSport Racing and a single start for the now-defunct Turner Scott Motorsports before leaving the series. This Friday night (March 4) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he’ll make his return behind the wheel of the No. 62 Camping World Toyota.

It all began as a Twitter challenge from Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis, who learned Bodine was just six starts away from running 800 races in NASCAR. The challenge? Get fans to share 800 reasons why Bodine should return to racing.

Hey @Team_Onion people say you are 6 away from 800 starts. I need 800 reasons from your fans to do this for 6 .. they must use #goodsamOnion pic.twitter.com/5ra46C7ghA

— Marcus Lemonis (@marcuslemonis) September 19, 2021

And less than two weeks later, that goal was reached and Lemonis is making good on that promise.

Congratulations to @Team_Onion … we set the goal and you achieved it. No shortcuts, no excuses just execution. This is why you are a winner. Excited to be part of history with you. @NASCAR_Trucks https://t.co/Ks4wfAKOn9

— Marcus Lemonis (@marcuslemonis) October 1, 2021

In December, the announcement came that Bodine would drive a second truck for Halmar Friesen Racing in those six starts, scheduled to come at Las Vegas, Darlington Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Nashville Superspeedway.

Todd Bodine’s return to trucks will be with Halmar Friesen Racing and @CampingWorld as a sponsor.

Races: Vegas, Darlington, Texas, Sonoma, Nashville, Pocono.

That will give him 800 career #NASCAR starts, and he will do it in a Toyota, the manufacturer for his two series titles. pic.twitter.com/XSZL0YGazT

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) December 13, 2021

Bodine’s Truck Series career began during the inaugural season in 1995 when he made five starts for Roush Racing. During that short timeframe, he posted five top 10s, including a best finish of fourth in his debut.

After that, it wasn’t until 2004 when he returned to the series to run 10 races that included wins at Auto Club Speedway and Texas for Germain Racing. He returned the following year to run full-time and made 10 starts for Tom Eldredge before returning to Germain Racing where he would spend the majority of his Truck Series career. During the 2005 season, Bodine scored five wins, including three straight to close out the year but came up short in the championship battle.

In 2006, Bodine scored the first of two championships he has to his name but only won three races that year. He started off with a runner-up in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway and never dropped lower than third in the standings. Completing 99% of the laps run that season (4075 of 4079), Bodine scored 16 top 10s and an average finish of 8.4 en route to a commanding championship win by 127 points over Johnny Benson.

He won the championship again in 2010, this time with four wins, 17 top fives, 20 top 10s and an even more impressive 6.4 average finish. In fact, Bodine was so consistent that season that he wrapped up the title a week before the season finale.

In 220 career starts, spanning 11 years, Bodine boasts 22 wins, 92 top fives and 124 top 10s. Fast forward to this weekend and the beginning of Bodine’s trek to 800 has arrived.

It’s ready!Headed to Las Vegas! #Road to 800 pic.twitter.com/Fp7Hepo2O7

— Todd Bodine (@Team_Onion) March 1, 2022

He’ll face some stiff competition in the field this weekend, but if he can readjust to driving a truck quickly through practice and qualifying, Bodine will definitely be one to watch this weekend in Las Vegas.

Truckin’ Tidbits

• Matt Crafton will make his 500th Truck Series start this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In a career that spans over 23 seasons, the driver of the No. 88 ThorSport Racing Toyota has 15 wins, 130 top fives and 300 top 10s. He has three championships to his name and is the only driver to win back-to-back titles in the Truck Series.
• There are 37 trucks on the entry list for 36 spots in Friday night’s race at Las Vegas.
• Following his victory at Daytona two weeks ago, Zane Smith looks to become the fourth driver to open the season with two wins. Most recently, Ben Rhodes did it last season but before that it was Johnny Sauter in 2013 (Daytona, Martinsville Speedway). The first time it happened, Mark Martin accomplished the feat in 2006 with wins at Daytona and Auto Club Speedway.