Todd Bodine brought his No. 11 Toyota Care Tundra to Iowa Speedway for the American Ethanol 200 looking for redemption. The two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion battled handling issues during the 200-lap event but was able to capitalize a 12th-place finish, moving him up one position in the driver’s points standings.
‘The Onion’ took the green-flag from the 11th starting position and quickly reported his Toyota Tundra was fighting loose conditions. Bodine was running 13th when an accident in turn two brought out the caution on lap six. The team stayed out on the track during the cleanup and restarted on lap 9 from the 13th spot.
The Toyota Care team was caught racing in the middle groove of the race track, shuffling Bodine into the 16th place on lap 33. When the caution came out for the second time of the night on lap 51, Bodine was scored 17th. Still fighting a loose Tundra, crew chief Rick Gay called the veteran to pit road for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. A great stop by the No. 11 pit crew allowed Bodine to restart on lap 56 in the 13th place.
The team visited pit road for more chassis adjustments on lap 63 during the third caution for an accident in turn four. The stop on pit road moved the Toyota care team to the 20th place when the field went back racing on lap 69.
After nine laps of green-flag racing, Bodine had raced his way up four spots to the 16th place. He was shown 17th, when the field hit the halfway mark on lap 100. Bodine reported “loose getting into the corners” just three laps later. Gay assured the driver during their next trip to pit road, a big change would be made on his Tundra.
Bodine was scored 15th when the race went back under caution. The team came to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. The No. 11 pit crew earned one position on pit road and put Bodine in the 14th place on the lap 142 restart.
The Toyota Care team was putting down lap times equal to those trucks running in the top-10 with less than 50 laps to go. Oil was spotted on the track on lap 165 which brought out the fifth caution of the night. Bodine was 13th and would head back down pit road for more adjustments on his Tundra.
Green-flag racing resumed on lap 168 with The Onion scored 16th. With 18 laps to go, the final caution flag was displayed for an accident in turn three. Bodine had picked up two positions, racing in the 14th place and reporting his Tundra was now fighting aero tight.
The Truck Series returns to action next Saturday, July 21st at Chicagoland Speedway for the American Ethanol 225 which can be watched live on SPEED at 7:30 p.m., ET.
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