Todd Bodine: Winn-Dixie 250 preview

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- While most of the nation will be celebrating the Fourth of July with fireworks and sparklers, Todd Bodine and the ESGR racing team hope to have their own celebration in victory lane when they travel to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for the Winn-Dixie 250.

The Busch Series event will take place on Friday night for the second consecutive year "under the lights" at Daytona, the most famed racetrack in NASCAR.

Bodine enters the race in Daytona with 10 starts to his credit in the Busch Series. Out of those 10 starts, he scored his best finish in February of 1997 when he finished second. With two top-10's and one top-five, the veteran driver is hoping to take the ESGR Chevy into Daytona's hallowed victory lane.

"For race car drivers, racing at Daytona is like the pinnacle of the sport," stated Bodine. "There is such a great atmosphere, and racing 'under the lights' only adds to that atmosphere. Everyone wants to be able to say that they've won at Daytona. I had one of my best finishes ever there in February when I finished sixth, but it would be nice to visit Daytona's victory lane with the ESGR Chevy."