Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc. is a bobsled constructor, founded in 1992 by former NASCAR driver and 1986 Daytona 500 winner Geoff Bodine, that collaborates on the design, manufacture and supply of U.S.-built racing sleds for the United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (USBSF).
 | |
| Founded | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Geoff Bodine |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Phil Kurze, President[2] |
| Website | www |
The project is classified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its sleds are built in NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano's Huntersville, North Carolina race shop.[3]
History
edit
Geoff Bodine was watching the 1992 Winter Olympics when he noticed the American team struggling in the bobsled event. At the time, the United States had not won an Olympic bobsled medal since 1956, and was using substandard sleds imported from Europe.[4] Bodine was invited to Lake Placid to visit the team and take part in demonstration runs. Bodine stated afterwards, "When I heard that our athletes weren't using American-made bobsleds, that was unacceptable."[5] Bodine stated about the project, "I'm glad we did it. No regrets. Not one regret. It's all about 'Made in the USA.' I'm a believer, I love our country . . . and the foundation of our country."[5]
Bodine partnered with race-car builder Bob Cuneo to build sleds. Bodine had recently purchased the assets of AK Racing, and used his leverage and connections as a NASCAR car owner to begin fundraising for the project. The project, known as Bo-Dyn ("Bo" for Bodine, "Dyn" for Chassis Dynamics), started having its sleds used by the U.S. team in 1994.[6]
In 2000, Whelen Engineering Company joined the project as sponsors, while Whelen Vice President Phil Kurze became the project's president the following year.[7]
At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, only the program's second Olympics, the US men's four-man team missed out on the bronze medal by a mere 0.02 seconds. At the 2002. Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah (USA), the team won three bobsled medals:[6] a gold in the women's competition, and silver and bronze in the four-man sled.
The project later constructed the "Night Train" sled, the fastest sled in the world.[8] Kurze stated that Night Train cost more than $250,000 to build.[9] In the 2010 Winter Olympics, the United States used the sled to win its first gold medal since 1948. When asked about the win, Bodine stated,[8]
Winning the Daytona 500 is NASCAR's biggest race. When you win that, it's a great feeling. But the Olympics is worldwide competition. It's incredible. I didn't get a trophy and I didn't get any money for it, but seeing those gold medals hanging on those four athletes felt pretty darn good. To know the whole country was cheering for them felt pretty darn special.
On April 30, 2011, Bo-Dyn and the USBSF ended its partnership due to intellectual property disagreements, and BMW became the new bobsled provider.[2][10] Subsequent litigation between the two parties was dropped in 2013.[11] The same year, Bo-Dyn began working on the Night Train 2, which was designed using carbon fiber instead of Kevlar and fiberglass, as carbon fiber provides improved weight distribution.[12] Night Train 2 was used by the U. S. team in the 2014 Winter Olympics.[13]
Bo-Dyn served as Bodine's sponsor in the E-Z-GO 200 Camping World Truck Series race in 2010.[14]
Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge
editFrom 2006 to 2010, the Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge was held, with funds raised going to the Bo-Dyn project.[15] Various NASCAR drivers entered the event, along with NHRA drivers. The inaugural event in 2006 was won by Boris Said[16] along with his brakeman Ryan Johnston, Boris would go on to win the 2007 and 2008 events as well while Todd Bodine and Morgan Lucas won the next challenge.[17] The 2010 challenge was won by Joey Logano.[15] On December 21, 2010, it was announced that the challenge would be discontinued.[18]
Results
editOlympics
edit| Event | Two-man | Four-man | Two-woman |
|---|---|---|---|
 1994 Lillehammer
|
13th 14th (Details) |
15th DNF (Details) |
— |
 1998 Nagano
|
7th (Details) |
5th (Details) |
— |
 2002 Salt Lake
|
4th 9th (Details) |
2nd  3rd  (Details) |
1st  5th (Details) |
 2006 Torino
|
7th 14th (Details) |
6th 7th (Details) |
2nd 6th (Details) |
 2010 Vancouver
|
6th 10th (Details) |
1st 13th (Details) |
3rd 5th 6th (Details) |
Bobsleigh World Cup
editReferences
edit- ^ Associated Press (January 28, 2010). "Olympic bobsled builder moving to NC's NASCAR core". ESPN. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- ^ a b "Bo-Dyn, US Bobsled part ways". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. June 28, 2011. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- ^ Schaefer, Paul (February 19, 2014). "Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project Speeds American Winter Olympic Effort In Sochi". NASCAR Home Tracks. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
- ^ "Bo-Dyn Bobsleds Use SolidWorks to Design World's Fastest Sled". SolidWorks. March 26, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- ^ a b Associated Press (February 25, 2010). "For Geoff Bodine, no one-track mind". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
- ^ a b "LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS RENEWS FOR BO-DYN BOBSLED CHALLENGE". Lucas Oil. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ^ Roberson, Kim (March 7, 2010). "Geoff Bodine Proud of Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project". Inside Racing News. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ^ a b Martin, Bruce. "Geoff Bodine's golden dream comes true at Olympics, more racing notes". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ^ Riley, Lori (March 23, 2013). "Building A Better Bobsled". Hartford Courant. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ^ Levanduski, Ron. "Bo-Dyn project brings innovation to bobsleds".
Holcomb's four victories in the two-man competitions have occurred in new sleds built by BMW of North America exclusively for the American men and women.
- ^ Associated Press (April 8, 2013). "Truce for Bo-Dyn, bobsled federation". ESPN. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- ^ Zillgitt, Jeff (August 21, 2013). "USA's top men's bobsled team adjusting to new sled". USA Today. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ^ "FORMER NASCAR DRIVER AIDS U.S. BOBSLED TEAM". NASCAR. January 20, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ "2010 E-Z-Go 200". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
- ^ a b "BODINE BOBSLED CHALLENGE NEWS". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ^ Associated Press (March 4, 2008). "Said wins both races at Bodine Bobsled Challenge". ESPN. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ^ Associated Press (January 4, 2009). "Bodine, Lucas win Bobsled Challenge". ESPN. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ^ "Bodine Bobsled Challenge canceled". Press-Republican. December 22, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
