Geoff Bodine to return for Daytona 500

UPDATE At 57, Geoff Bodine has found an elixir that he says has revitalized his arthritic body. Now, he hopes to attempt to qualify for February's Daytona 500 with the company behind that nutritional drink as his sponsor. Bodine started taking the nutritional, fruit-based drink MonaVie in April and says he's never felt better. The company approached Bodine with the idea of running a car at Daytona. Bodine, who hasn't driven a Nextel Cup car in more than two years, said he's up for the challenge. "I wasn't looking to get back into racing, believe me, but this opportunity came along and it's a good opportunity," Bodine said Wednesday. He said most of his family has tried the MonaVie juice, which is sold only through a network of individuals and costs more than $30. "It's got rid of the majority of my arthritic pains," he said. "I've felt the benefits of it and now I'm trying to get the brand name out and show the world this product." With his sponsor in tow, the 1986 Daytona 500 winner is looking for a team he hopes can help him have the kind of run he had at Daytona in 2002, when he finished third in the Daytona 500 with a small, independent team. "We know it's going to be tough and that's why we are looking for a good team that runs well on super speedways," Bodine said. "I've got a good sponsor and they understand the financial obligation that it's going to take to get an established team involved. If we don't get a good car we won't go. I'm confident we're going to find a good car and team and we'll do this." Bodine's last time in a stock car was 2005, when he made a few Busch Series efforts. "I wasn't looking for this, but I'm happy they want to do this with me and it might go farther," Bodine said. "I've been very happy with the time that I've had off from racing." During that time, Bodine stepped up his involvement in helping to raise money for the U.S. Olympic Bobsled team, which uses BoDyn sleds that he helped develop. Bodine will host the second annual Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge at Lake Placid from Jan. 4-7. He's also working on a project to retrofit a bobsled for paraplegics, with those sleds now being tested at the Salt Lake City Olympic bobsled run. One of his other business ventures, Geoff Bodine's World of Cars near Jacksonville, Fla., recently closed, Bodine said. Earlier this year he launched a virtual museum at the Web site www.geoffbodinemuseum.com. Elmira Star Gazette

11/09/06 Geoffrey Bodine, 57, will attempt to qualify for February's Daytona 500 despite having been out of the Nextel Cup Series for more than two years. Bodine said he has lined up a sponsor for the race but has revealed no details. Tennessean