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Congratulations to Team USA! Gold in 4-Man and Bronze in Women's Bob!
November 25, 2009
Perfect Storm of Technology, Talent and Coaching brings US Bobsledders to Pinnacle
National teams helped by NASCAR, NHRA and Bo-Dyn’s Made in America bobsleds
4-Man teams Holcomb and Napier celebrate World Cup Gold and Silver in Lake Placid, NY
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - Thanks to NASCAR great Geoff Bodine, the United States Bobsled Teams continue to ride their sleek Bo-Dyn sleds to history-making heights this season.
Beginning in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games when Jill Bakken won a women’s gold medal while Todd Hays and Brian Shimer claimed men’s silver and bronze medals, respectively, success and Bodine have been synonymous for American sledders. Shauna Rohbock added to the achievements with silver in Torino in 2006. But a 2009 World Championship by Steve Holcomb in the four man event was the first such title for the U.S. in 50 years.
As significant an achievement as that victory was near the end of the winter, the team served notice this month in week two of the new World Cup campaign when John Napier, just 22 years old, and Holcomb swept the top two spots in Lake Placid in both the two and four man competitions. A gold-silver sweep of both World Cup events by U.S. competitors had never occurred until Nov. 21-22. Napier grabbed his first career World Cup victory in the two man event with Holcomb second; the teammates traded places the next day in the four man race.
“This season we finally have the three main ingredients to racing success: the drivers, the pushers and the equipment with the Bo-Dyn sleds,” said Darrin Steele, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation. “All these things came together for us on our home track and we couldn’t be more proud. What makes this even more amazing is that Napier was USA III coming into this race. Todd Hays did not compete or we could have been looking at the unthinkable, a first-ever World Cup sweep in the history of our sport. I like our chances moving forward this season. I like them a lot.”
Bo-Dyn bobsleds, started by Bodine in 1992 after learning that U.S. athletes were using European cast-offs, are evolving with the technological savvy of Bob Cuneo of Chassis Dynamics in Oxford, Connecticut. Sleds like Holcomb’s “Night Train” are helping send Americans to the top of the medal stand.
“It’s always possible to go faster and so we never stop trying,” said Cuneo. “Right now is the first time all the elements are right together. We’ve got all the pieces and now we have to work together to keep tuning them.”
Events like the Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen Engineering, held annually in Lake Placid, raises money and awareness that are needed for international success.
"We are all very excited about the fantastic results at Lake Placid this past weekend,” said Phil Kurze, Vice President of Whelen Engineering. “Our mission statement is to promote the sport of bobsledding and to provide the athletes with the best possible 'Made in America' equipment. We look forward to continued success from the entire USA Bobsled Team. I think it is going to be a very memorable season and we are very proud to be a part of it."
The fifth edition of the Geoff Bodine event, pitting stars from NASCAR and NHRA, is set for Jan. 8-10, 2010 on Mount Van Hoevenberg, just outside Lake Placid and the public is cordially invited to attend. Joey Logano, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year, leads the group of drivers who will race in several events in the two-time Winter Olympic village. Morgan Lucas and Jeg Coughlin are among the NHRA drivers committed to attend. Additional competitors will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The Bodine Challenge has been the turning point,” continued Cuneo. “It’s brought awareness to our sport. We got people in the race community to see what we’re doing and understand that this is a tough sport. Now we hear race car drivers at their events asking how the bobsledders are doing.”
A winner at Daytona, Bodine was at Homestead, Fla. for the NASCAR finale last week when he received word from Lake Placid. “It was incredible to hear that our teams did so well,” he said. “We knew we’d be in contention, but those results were sure great because being in racing, the slightest slip can cost you. The week before in Park City (Utah) some odd things happened. Lake Placid is the way it’s supposed to be. We have confidence in our athletes. It’s a real bonus to know that any race can be theirs.”
The U.S. teams are training and resting this week before resuming the World Cup tour in Cesana, Italy Dec. 5-6 on the 2006 Torino course.
For more information on the U.S bobsled teams, please log on to www.usbsf.com.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen Engineering, please log on to www.bodinebobsled.com.
What Daytona is to auto racing, Lake Placid is to bobsledding
National teams helped by NASCAR, NHRA and Bo-Dyn’s Made in America bobsleds
4-Man teams Holcomb and Napier celebrate World Cup Gold and Silver in Lake Placid, NY
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - Thanks to NASCAR great Geoff Bodine, the United States Bobsled Teams continue to ride their sleek Bo-Dyn sleds to history-making heights this season.
Beginning in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games when Jill Bakken won a women’s gold medal while Todd Hays and Brian Shimer claimed men’s silver and bronze medals, respectively, success and Bodine have been synonymous for American sledders. Shauna Rohbock added to the achievements with silver in Torino in 2006. But a 2009 World Championship by Steve Holcomb in the four man event was the first such title for the U.S. in 50 years.
As significant an achievement as that victory was near the end of the winter, the team served notice this month in week two of the new World Cup campaign when John Napier, just 22 years old, and Holcomb swept the top two spots in Lake Placid in both the two and four man competitions. A gold-silver sweep of both World Cup events by U.S. competitors had never occurred until Nov. 21-22. Napier grabbed his first career World Cup victory in the two man event with Holcomb second; the teammates traded places the next day in the four man race.
“This season we finally have the three main ingredients to racing success: the drivers, the pushers and the equipment with the Bo-Dyn sleds,” said Darrin Steele, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation. “All these things came together for us on our home track and we couldn’t be more proud. What makes this even more amazing is that Napier was USA III coming into this race. Todd Hays did not compete or we could have been looking at the unthinkable, a first-ever World Cup sweep in the history of our sport. I like our chances moving forward this season. I like them a lot.”
Bo-Dyn bobsleds, started by Bodine in 1992 after learning that U.S. athletes were using European cast-offs, are evolving with the technological savvy of Bob Cuneo of Chassis Dynamics in Oxford, Connecticut. Sleds like Holcomb’s “Night Train” are helping send Americans to the top of the medal stand.
“It’s always possible to go faster and so we never stop trying,” said Cuneo. “Right now is the first time all the elements are right together. We’ve got all the pieces and now we have to work together to keep tuning them.”
Events like the Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen Engineering, held annually in Lake Placid, raises money and awareness that are needed for international success.
"We are all very excited about the fantastic results at Lake Placid this past weekend,” said Phil Kurze, Vice President of Whelen Engineering. “Our mission statement is to promote the sport of bobsledding and to provide the athletes with the best possible 'Made in America' equipment. We look forward to continued success from the entire USA Bobsled Team. I think it is going to be a very memorable season and we are very proud to be a part of it."
The fifth edition of the Geoff Bodine event, pitting stars from NASCAR and NHRA, is set for Jan. 8-10, 2010 on Mount Van Hoevenberg, just outside Lake Placid and the public is cordially invited to attend. Joey Logano, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year, leads the group of drivers who will race in several events in the two-time Winter Olympic village. Morgan Lucas and Jeg Coughlin are among the NHRA drivers committed to attend. Additional competitors will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The Bodine Challenge has been the turning point,” continued Cuneo. “It’s brought awareness to our sport. We got people in the race community to see what we’re doing and understand that this is a tough sport. Now we hear race car drivers at their events asking how the bobsledders are doing.”
A winner at Daytona, Bodine was at Homestead, Fla. for the NASCAR finale last week when he received word from Lake Placid. “It was incredible to hear that our teams did so well,” he said. “We knew we’d be in contention, but those results were sure great because being in racing, the slightest slip can cost you. The week before in Park City (Utah) some odd things happened. Lake Placid is the way it’s supposed to be. We have confidence in our athletes. It’s a real bonus to know that any race can be theirs.”
The U.S. teams are training and resting this week before resuming the World Cup tour in Cesana, Italy Dec. 5-6 on the 2006 Torino course.
For more information on the U.S bobsled teams, please log on to www.usbsf.com.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge presented by Whelen Engineering, please log on to www.bodinebobsled.com.
What Daytona is to auto racing, Lake Placid is to bobsledding
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