Geoffrey and Brett
on Oprah !
January 25,
2000
Geoffrey and Brett Bodine are two of the world's
most famous NASCAR drivers — and brothers. They
took problems in their personal life to the track
and this public rivalry nearly drove them apart.
Brett has always admired his older brother Geoff
and learned everything from him. Geoff's success in racing was a plus for his career, but also a
negative in some respects. Following a sibling
that has been so successful was difficult as he
was always being compared to his older brother.
Their mother became ill and they didn't agree on
how each other was handling the situation. It drove
a wedge between them.
It all came to a head on at the biggest race of
year. They took their aggressions out on the track, resulting in Geoff crashing his car - costing him
the win and hurting him financially. Venting his
anger, Geoff mentioned their family problems on television. It was devastating to Brett that Geoff would take this to the public. It was all over the headlines.
For a couple of years, they just exchanged cold
hellos at the racetrack. Brett told Geoff that he
no longer wanted to be his brother. Geoff told him
that they would always be brothers, and he'd love
him no matter what.
The day they buried their father was the day that
they began to heal. That day they realized that
they needed each other. They were family.
Brett says, "I truly missed our relationship. It
was difficult. Difficult to go to the racetrack
and not have him to go to. The best thing about
having Geoff back, I've got my best friend back
— my hero, my idol, my mentor. Certainly my spirit
is more alive because we are brothers again.
Geoff, "It's normal to have sibling rivalry. Get
though it. Don't let it destroy you!"
Carol June & Eli Bodine
| 
Geoff, Eli &
Brett
|
Brett & Geoff
early
'80s
| 
Two "Plugs"
of Garrett
|
Brett Wins!
| 
Coke 600 - 1986
|
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