Todd Bodine: Carquest Auto Parts 300 preview

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Todd Bodine and the ESGR racing team will head to Concord, North Carolina this weekend for the running of the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's (N.C.) Motor Speedway. The event marks the third partnership between Herzog Jackson Motorsports (HJM) and ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) this season.

Despite sponsorship troubles that have plagued the HJM racing organization for most of the year, the team has performed remarkably well. Bodine currently sits only 10 points out of the lead in the NASCAR Busch Series driver's points standings, where he previously held the top spot for six weeks.

The partnership with ESGR and HJM includes six races for the 2003 season. Locations listed in the partnership include: Lowe's (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Kansas (Kan.) Speedway, and the previous weeks races held at Gateway (Ill.) International Raceway and Nazareth (Penn.) Speedway.

Bodine returns to Lowe's (N.C.) Motor Speedway a seasoned veteran with 18 starts in the Busch Series at the mile-and a-half track. Out of 18 starts, he has accumulated a 50% top-10 finish rate, with nine top-10 finishes and three top-five finishes to his credit. Bodine also has won two Winston Opens at the famed track in the Winston Cup Series.

Herzog Jackson Motorsports will return to Lowe's Motor Speedway with six starts in the Busch Series, grabbing their best finish of fifth place last spring with Bodine in the driver's seat of the No. 92 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

"I always look forward to racing at Lowe's because it's so close to home and the atmosphere is incredible. As far as how I've done here, I feel like I've had my share of success, but I'm always striving for a victory. To be able to put the ESGR Chevy into victory lane would really mean a lot to me, considering I've never won a Busch race there. More importantly, I would love to be able to get a win here for the people of the ESGR who made all of this possible."