Bodines' Travelogue

Todd and Janet Bodine's trip last week to Talladega Superspeedway, a wild day in the Mountain Dew 250 and then the immediate aftermath of the narrowed-up Camping World Truck Series' championship race kind of dominates their thoughts right now.

But so does planning ahead for what they hope will be Todd's second championship celebration. Bodine has a 216-point lead on Aric Almirola heading to Texas this weekend, with three races left this season.

So "travel" was back on the Bodines' Travelogue in Week 12 of the journey, as they had to fight the urge to stop and help wrecked travelers on a rainy day trip to Talladega; to fight back the urge to scream as they watched friend Ron Hornaday flip at Talladega; and then have a relaxing Halloween evening at home, before taking a big step with their 1939 Studebaker "project car."

A dog's life on the road

Todd Bodine: The trip to Talladega was pretty tough, because it rained pretty hard on our way down there.

Janet Bodine: Basically, on the trip to Talladega, I was trying to get a couple things done. First, I had to do all the flight arrangements from now through Thanksgiving.

Michael Annett's dog, Paisley, can make driving difficult.

Todd Bodine: But even with the rain, the thing about those motorhomes is, the windshields are straight up-and-down, so the rain doesn't gather and run off like it does on a car windshield, so the visibility's not nearly as bad.

Janet Bodine: But we had Paisley, Michael Annett's dog, with us for the last time this season that we'll be able to have her, due to our travel schedule. And when we have Paisley with us, it's really hard because Paisley wants to sit on your lap, the whole way there.

Todd Bodine: Oh yeah. Paisley will come over and put her paws up on my leg, while I'm driving. The next thing I know, she's trying to jump up in my lap.

Janet Bodine: So in between fending-off Paisley and keeping her under control, I was trying to keep an eye on things on the road.

Todd Bodine: Paisley jumping in my lap while driving has happened a couple times and I've literally had to throw her down, so nothing happens. But it's all good.

Janet Bodine: So I was making flight reservations and hotel reservations and we were real concerned about Brendan and Tatum Gaughan's baby -- because that was Thursday [Oct. 28] and she hadn't delivered her yet. I had been on the phone a lot with Brendan and Tatum trying to give 'em friendly advice -- not to be nervous and how cool it was going to be. They had their son on Saturday [Oct. 30] so we can't wait to go from Texas to see 'em all.

Todd Bodine: Janet and I were thinking about them the whole trip down there.

Janet Bodine: So the crappy weather on the way down -- especially around Atlanta -- didn't affect me a bit. It didn't bother me at all.

Todd Bodine: I should be so lucky. But the good thing, the coach is so heavy, in the rain it doesn't hydroplane like a car would, so you don't have to slow down as much as you do in a car. So it's not as bad as you would think -- but it was pretty bad, because what happened is that all the cars slow down, so you have to slow down with them.

Janet Bodine: Actually -- I lied. There were a couple of 'Oh, my Gods ...' There were a lot of wrecks between here and there and as we got closer to Talladega there were a great amount of wrecks. I'll tell you, sitting in the passenger seat and not seeing an ambulance at the wreck -- you want to stop and help.

Todd Bodine: That's Janet's emergency medical background kicking in.

Janet Bodine: But unfortunately, we were running in a convoy with Ron and Lindy Hornaday, and you just can't stop two coaches that fast to get out and help anybody. That was the downside to it.

Todd Bodine: Not to mention it'd be a little dangerous to be doing that -- trying to stop -- amongst all those car drivers.

Janet Bodine: Once we got to Talladega, it was business as usual, where I take care of the inside and Todd's all over the outside of the coach. (Continued)