Talladega, AL (Sports Network) - Todd Bodine passed Kyle Busch for the lead coming out of the final turn of the last lap and then held off Ron Hornaday, Jr. to win Saturday's Mountain Dew 250 Craftsman Truck Series race at the Talladega Superspeedway.
The victory was Bodine's second of the season and the 14th of his Truck Series career. It was also his third consecutive superspeedway win. Bodine won in February at Daytona and last year's race at Talladega.
"Going down the back straightaway, I was thinking I'll just finish second here," Bodine said. "I pushed Kyle Busch down there, tried to get him to win. We came off of turn four and I hit him, got him sideways and I had to go down the side, and then I had a buddy behind me, Ron Hornaday. He was back there, and he came back and pushed me and here we are."
Bodine wins thrilling truck race at Talladega....
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
In the wake of a brawl following last Saturday's Camping World RV Rental 200 Craftsman Truck Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NASCAR on Wednesday announced penalties to the teams involved.
Three crew members involved in the fight have been suspended for the next truck race, scheduled for Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and from all NASCAR activities through Sept. 24: Mike Hillman Jr., crew chief for the No. 30 Toyota driven by Todd Bodine; Mark Hillman of the No. 30 team; and William Divel, a crew member of the No. 11 Toyota driven by David Starr.
Hillman Jr. was fined $2,500 and had his probation extended through Dec. 31; Mark Hillman and Divel were fined $1,500 each and placed on probation through the end of the year. The largest fine was assessed against Starr, who found himself in the middle of the melee after he climbed from his truck on pit road. Starr was fined $10,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31.
Richard Gay, crew chief for the No. 11 truck, and Jason Overstreet, crew chief for the No. 9 truck driven by David Reutimann, have been fined $1,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Germain Racing fields the No. 9 and No. 30 Toyota teams.
In addition, crew members Brandon Hopkins (No. 30) and Tony Jilson (No. 9) truck have been placed on probation through the end of the year. NASCAR also placed the entire teams of owners Steve Germain (No. 30), Bob Germain (No. 9) and Tom DeLoach (No. 11) on probation through Dec. 31.
NASCAR levies penalties for postrace fight....
