LAKE PLACID, NY - January 5, 2008
The heading pretty much sums it up. Boris Said finished first in qualifying on Friday and first in each of the two races on Saturday. He has now won 5 of the 6 Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge races.
The drivers competing in the 3rd Annual Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge included an impressive list of former and newly crowned National Champions:
NASCAR
Todd Bodine - 2006 Craftsman Truck Series Champion
Ron Hornaday Jr - 2007 Craftsman Truck Series Champion
Steve Carlson - 2007 Whelen All-American Series Champion
Joey Logano - 2007 Busch Grand National East Series Champion
Donny Lia - 2007 Whelen Modified Tour Champion
L.W. Miller - 2007 Whelen Southern Modified Tour Champion
Boris Said - Nextel Cup driver and past 3-time Bodine Challenge winner
Johnny Benson - 2006 & 2007 Craftsman Truck Series Most Popular Driver
Randy Lajoie - 1996 & 1997 Busch Grand National Series Champion
Larry Gunselman - Former Nextel Cup driver
NHRA
Morgan Lucas - Top Fuel driver
J.R. Todd - 2006 Rookie of the Year
Jeg Coughlin Jr - 2000, 2002 & 2007 Pro Stock Champion
Bob Vandegriff - 1994 Rookie of the Year
Phil Burkart - 2002 Division 3 Super Gas Champion
The Bo-Dyn bobsleds used this year again featured some really neat paint schemes thanks to PPG. I did not attend practice on Thursday or qualifying on Friday but from the apparent damage to the side bumpers on many of the sleds, there was a lot of beating and banging going on. I am told that J.R. Todd turned his sled over during his 2nd practice run on Thursday. I was also told that it was 14 degrees below zero on Thursday so I am really glad my work schedule
prevented me from attending.
Normally, two downhill runs make up a bobsled race. The driver with the lowest combined time of the two runs becomes the race winner. However, because this year’s Challenge included 15 drivers instead of the usual 10, only the top 5 drivers after the first run would compete for the title in the second run. They included Donny Lia, Larry Gunselman, Jeg Coughlin, Boris Said and L.W. Miller.
During the second and title run, Boris Said posted a time of 50.53 seconds, the fastest time of the weekend. L.W. Miller, the leader after the first run, completed his second run in 51.26 seconds and finished 0.72 seconds behind Boris. Jeg Coughlin finished third, 1.34 seconds behind Boris.
The first leg of the sweep by Boris Said was complete.
A 2-hour break followed for a Victory Lane celebration, an autograph session and lunch. Racing resumed with what was billed as the main event of the Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge - the NASCAR drivers vs the NHRA drivers. Five NASCAR drivers picked by Geoff would compete against the five NHRA drivers.
After the first run, Boris Said and Morgan Lucas were the leaders of their respective
groups and each received a “bye” for the second run. Two drivers from each
group with the slowest times were eliminated - Randy LaJoie, Johnny Benson, Phil
Burkhart and J.R. Todd.
During the second run, Todd Bodine defeated Ron Hornaday and Bob Vandergriff defeated Jeg Coughlin.
In the third run, we saw Boris Said defeat Todd Bodine and Morgan Lucas defeat Bob Vandergriff. The stage was set for the final Championship race - Boris Said vs Morgan Lucas.
In an attempt to make the Championship race more equal for both drivers, Boris and Morgan would run the same bobsled. However, officials elected to use Boris's sled which may have given him a slight advantage, not that he needed it. Boris turned in an impressive 50.99 second run, the second quickest of the day, and went on to defeat Morgan by just over a second. Morgan Lucas would say later “it was a blowout”.
For the second time in two years, Boris Said sweeps both Championship races,
and has now won 5 of the 6 Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge events.
Throughout the day, Geoff Bodine spoke briefly with each driver as they prepared to make their run down the hill.
Saturdays weather was in the mid 20s, ideal for both drivers and spectators. There were less spectators attending than last year but keep in mind the 2007 Challenge was held in conjunction with the 2-man and 4-man US National Championships. I also noticed there were far more VIPs on the finish deck this year, making it almost impossible to obtain good photos of the drivers.
As I surf the Internet, I am seeing more coverage of the event throughout the racing community, which should bring more awareness to the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project. The annual Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge first debuted in 2006 and is designed to help fund research and development of the Bo-Dyn bobsleds used in Olympic competition. To learn more, please visit our information pages or visit bodynbobsled.com.
SPEED Channel will broadcast the Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge in two 2-hour segments. The
morning races will air January 20th from 12:00-2:00 pm. The afternoon NASCAR vs NHRA races will air January 27th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Check your local listings to be sure.
To get a better understanding of the Lake Placid bobsled course layout, we've prepared an INTERACTIVE MAP that shows camera angles along the course.
This map, furnished by the Olympic
Regional Development Authority, also shows the curve names and numbers you will be hearing about should you watch the television coverage on SPEED. |
