Logano Wins At Bobsled Challenge
The Bodine Bobsled Challenge was held on Mount Van Hovenburg in rural Lake Placid, site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, and the 2009 World Bobsled Championships. The event is geared to create awareness and greater funding for the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc., which provides made-in-America bobsleds for the United States men's and women's national teams.
By Jason Cunningham/NASCAR
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – The Fifth Annual Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen Engineering concluded on Sunday with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano a winner.
Logano defeated Melanie Troxel from the NHRA in Sunday’s Race 2 finals, which pitted the fastest NASCAR representative against the fastest from the NHRA. Logano’s run of 49.81 seconds edged the 50.08 of Troxel, who was the champion of Race 1 earlier in the day.
“I'm happy with my time, and it makes it a ton of fun to finally get a win,” Logano said. “This is a blast.”
A three-year participant in the Bodine Bobsled Challenge, Sunday’s Race 2 overall win was the first in a bobsled for Logano. Logano recorded the second-fastest time, just behind NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Todd Bodine, during the first round of competition against his fellow NASCAR competitors, and advanced to the semifinals in the head-to-head portion of the racing with a win against part-time driver and ESPN NASCAR analyst Boris Said. Logano then defeated Bodine in the semifinals to earn a match-up with Troxel.
“I'm still not that good, but I got lucky,” Logano said. “I just keep asking questions. Same as in my Cup car, I just ask questions. I didn't think I had a chance against her.”
Troxel made it to the finals of Race 2 by recording the fastest time among her NHRA competitors in the first round, then defeated Morgan Lucas in the semifinals.
Earlier in the day the event’s 10 participants competed in Race 1, which determined an overall winner based on the combined time of two runs. Troxel took top honors with a composite time of 1:39.33 to just edge fellow NHRA representative Jeg Coughlin Jr. at 1:39.40. Said was third overall, and fastest among the NASCAR drivers at 1:39.69. Bodine was fourth at 1:39.82.
Shawn Langdon (NHRA, 1:40.12), Morgan Lucas (1:40.32), Logano (1:40.40), Philip Morris (NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, 1:40.53), George Brunnhoelzl III (NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, 1:40.97) and Carl Renezeder (Off-road racer, 1:41.16) rounded out the Race 1 results.
Said recorded the fastest single run of any competitor on Sunday, a trip of 49.21 seconds during the first round of Race 1.
The Bodine Bobsled Challenge was held on Mount Van Hovenburg in rural Lake Placid, site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, and the 2009 World Bobsled Championships. The event is geared to create awareness and greater funding for the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc., which provides made-in-America bobsleds for the United States men's and women's national teams.
Action from the Fifth Annual Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen Engineering will air on SPEED on Jan. 24 and Jan. 31.
NOTES: Troxel was the first female to participate
in the Bodine Bobsled Challenge in the event’s five-year history …
Renezeder was Saturday’s fastest qualifier … An off-road racer who is
not affiliated with NASCAR or NHRA, Renezeder competed with the NHRA in
Sunday’s Race 2 … Corey LaJoie, son of former NASCAR Nationwide Series
driver Randy LaJoie, qualified for Bodine on Saturday.
