For Immediate Release:

Friday, December 2, 2005

Contact: Tom LaDue

Public and Media Relations Director

United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation

(518) 523-1842 ext. 106

Lake Placid, New York - After the first 2 stops on the FIBT World Cup bobsled season in Calgary, Canada and Lake Placid, New York the United States bobsled teams have achieved some startling results. In six total races, two each of the women’s bobsled, 2-man and 4-man bobsled the American’s have won 1 gold, 4 silvers and 2 bronze. That's seven medals out of 18 total offered. Another factor involved that really jumps out is the fact that four different American drivers have won medals. Never before has the U.S. had two different men on the podium at one time at a World Cup until last week in Lake Placid when the men took a silver and bronze in the 2-man race. The United States has three women’s bobsled athletes in the top five of the World Cup and there are three U.S. men’s sleds in the top ten of the World Cup. As a result the U.S. has moved to the top of the leader board in nations points.

A combination of factors could be involved in the early success such as the athletes peaking for an Olympic year and the new Bodine bobsleds just being fast. Geoff Bodine, a former NASCAR driver, who started building Made In America U.S. team sleds for the 1992-93 season because he did not like the fact that USA athletes were driving European

equipment sees it as a combination of factors. "We have superior athletes who are peaking for the Olympic season and on top of that my sled design guys, Chassis Dynamics have built some great sleds. The guys at Chasis Dynamics knew this new design was going to be fast even before it hit the ice during the national team trials in October."

Bob Cuneo of Chasis Dynamics of Oxford, Connecticut has a thirty-year relationship with Bodine building Auto Racing Chasis' for Geoff in his early days of success on the modified tour. He initially had a lot to learn about bobsledding but he noticed that it did have many similarities to NASCAR. "It took us a while to figure out the intricacies of the sport but after 13 years we are confident that we have now come up with a design that is fastest in the world. More importantly, we are extremely proud that these are Made In America sleds. When we see those athletes get up on the podium to receive medals, it makes it all worthwhile. This is about Americans helping American athletes on their way to the Olympics."

Another twist to the Bodine bobsled Project is Geoff Bodine hosting a fund raiser for his Bodine Bobsled project involving ten NASCAR drivers driving specialty made bobsleds in Lake Placid, NY January 5-7, 2006. According to Bodine, "These sleds my colleagues will be driving look exactly like our Bodine designed sled on the FIBT World Cup Tour, but will be a safer version. After testing a sled on November 8th in Lake Placid, the guys are going to love the speed and thrill of the bobsled."

Many drivers have lent their name to the event but it is still to be determined who will compete. Boris Said is one driver who has roots to bobsledding; his father was an Olympic bobsled driver in the 1968 and 1972 Games. Said describes bobsledding, as, " the greatest thrill I have ever had without an engine." Other drivers who have indicated to Bodine that they want to come if their schedule permits are: Tony Stewart, Todd Bodine, Ken Schrader, Kyle Petty, Randy LaJoie, Kevin Lepage, Debra Renshaw and Steve Park.

For information on the Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge, go to www.bodinebobsled.com.

The next event on the circuit is Innsbruck, Austria December 9-11th and all events are covered on Speed Channel. For more information go to www.bodinebobsled.com.

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