Two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Todd Bodine believes that while the truck series remains strong, its business model needs adjustments within the next five years to reduce costs.
“We need to refine our approach and find ways to save money,” Bodine says. He points out that many local short-track teams want to compete more in the truck series, but financial limitations prevent them from doing so. While a small business owner, like a plumber, might afford short-track racing and an occasional truck race, running a full-time truck series team is far more expensive.
Now a 61-year-old Fox Sports analyst from Chemung, New York, Bodine acknowledges that many people push for bigger race purses. However, like any sport, NASCAR must evolve while maintaining financial sustainability.
Bodine also highlights how the series has changed over the years. When it first started, it was primarily made up of veteran drivers like himself, Ron Hornaday, Mike Skinner, and Jack Sprague—racers who had already competed in the Cup or Xfinity (formerly Busch) Series. They joined the truck series to continue racing for fun and extend their careers.
Today, however, the series serves as a stepping stone for young drivers trying to make a name for themselves. Bodine points out that in the past decade, many drivers who started in the truck series have gone on to win races and championships in the Cup and Xfinity Series. He specifically mentions Carson Hocevar, who quickly moved from the truck series to a full-time Cup Series ride.
According to Bodine, the truck series plays a vital role in teaching young drivers essential racing skills, including drafting, handling traffic, and making strategic moves—things they wouldn’t typically learn in short-track racing.
“It’s a different era with a different mindset,” he says. “The series is just as strong as before—just in a new way.”
