Brett Bodine’s 2003 U.S. Micro 1/24 Taurus, the “Brick Car,” is a unique diecast in that owning one meant a fan had their name on the car and had effectively funded Bodine’s Brickyard 400 entry. However, the Brick Car also effectively tells the story of the struggles that can plague underfunded NASCAR teams, particularly the plight of owner/drivers.  

Bodine was among a rash of driver/owners in the 1990s, some of which were NASCAR’s most prolific personalities, including Alan Kulwicki, Kyle Petty, Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott and Darrell Waltrip. Bodine didn’t have the same name recognition — or success — as these drivers, but he told MotorTrend in 1999 it was his dream to own a racing team. A desire to work for oneself apparently ran in the family. Bodine’s father owned several companies, and Brett’s older brother, Geoff, began his tenure as a driver/owner in the Cup Series in 1993.  

Bodine got his opportunity to be a team owner following the 1995 season in which he drove for Junior Johnson’s organization. Johnson called it quits, and Bodine purchased the team, including its shop and inventory, for $4 million. It was a sum Bodine and his wife, Diane, couldn’t pay. However, Lowe’s had a contract to continue sponsoring the No. 11 team through the 1996 season for $4.2 million. Diane devised a plan in which Lowe’s directly paid the 1996 sponsorship dollars to Junior Johnson so Bodine could purchase the team. Though the arrangement landed Bodine his own race team, Brett Bodine Racine, it left no funding to actual contest the upcoming season.  

Brett Bodine Racing racked up nearly $1 million in debt in 1996, but the financial outlook was rosy in 1997 when Close Call Phone Cards, owned by Catalyst Communications, signed an agreement with Bodine to serve as primary sponsor of the No. 11 for three years for $15 million. However, Bodine’s new sponsor backed out of the deal after paying Bodine about one-quarter of that, Motor Trend reported. Soon Bodine’s racing team was $2 million in debt, and he was forced to sell a 50-percent stake in the team.  

That financier, Andy Evans, desired control over the team ahead of the 1998 season, resulting in a lengthy — and costly — legal battle. Eventually Bodine was able to buy back Evans’ stake through undisclosed financiers. Bodine qualified for all 33 races in 1998 and took home more than $1.2 million in earnings, plus sponsorship dollars from Paychex, but the team still managed to just break even. Paychex sponsored Bodine through 1999 with Ralphs Supermarkets taking over as primary sponsor for the 2000-01 seasons, keeping the team afloat.  

Bodine entered the 2002 campaign without long-term primary sponsorship, and limited funding from others, including associate sponsor Wells Fargo (Wells Fargo adorned the hood of Bodine’s 2002 Daytona 500 ride, but the actual car differs from the promo diecast made by Racing Champions Authentics line).  

Bodine still had associate sponsor deals with Wells Fargo, Timberland and DuraLube — which was represented on the hood of the No. 11 for the next two races of 2002 — but lacked a primary. Beginning at Hooter’s home track of Atlanta, Bodine inked a deal for the restaurant to serve as the team’s primary sponsor for the rest of the season. Bodine finished the year with a season-best 13^th-place finish at the spring Talladega race, but he failed to qualify for four of the final nine races of the year. It proved to be his final full-season effort.  

Hooters rejoined Bodine in 2003 but reportedly with far less funding than the previous season. The results showed on the track. Bodine attempted to qualify in nine of the first 13 races of the season, racking up three DNQs. His best finish was 24^th at Bristol in the six races in which he qualified. Bodine qualified for the June 15, 2003, race at Michigan, but he broke his collarbone in a violent practice crash. Adding insult to injury, Hooters informed Bodine the Michigan race would be its last time sponsoring the No. 11, reportedly due to a “lack of exposure.” His brother Geoff replaced him for the race and exited early with a vibration for a 39^th-place finish.  

After failing to qualify for at Pocono in Morgan-McClure’s No. 4 Pontiac, Bodine returned to his race team for the 2003 Brickyard 400. But financial issues still hampered his efforts.  

Bodine landed sponsorship for the race through U.S. Micro Corp, a computer disposal, refurbishment, leasing and sales company which had served as BBR’s official computer provider. With a tie-in to the bricks of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Bodine’s Brick Car offered fans the chance to purchase a “brick” decal with their name on it for $500. These “personal sponsors” also received the Racing Champions 1/24 diecast of the Brick Car autographed by Bodine with a “commemorative certificate.” Because of the promotional nature of the car, the Racing Champions diecast does not have an official production run, according to Diecast Registry.  

Plenty of fans jumped at the opportunity with most “bricks” on Bodine’s car bearing names. One was simply adorned with “BRETT BODINE FANS.”  

Bodine and fans funding the Brickyard 400 effort suffered heartbreak on qualifying day. Bodine was just 0.001 second off the pace to qualify on speed. Unfortunately for Bodine, Derrick Cope was one spot ahead of Bodine in owner’s points to take the last provisional starting position for the race, so the Brick Car failed to qualify.  

It was a heart-wrenching sendoff for Bodine and the Brick Car proved to be his last ever attempt to race in the Cup Series. With no sponsorship moving forward, the team was sold after Bodine withdrew from two races later in the season. 

Though Bodine retired from racing, he remained a consistent presence in its ranks. He served as pace car driver for the Cup Series for 14 years and had roles with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program and its R&D department. Notably, Bodine was integral in the development of the Car of Tomorrow.  

Those wanting Bodine’s interesting one-hit wonder will have to do some searching, though. As of this writing, extensive searching yielded zero of these 1/24s for sale.