By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) Geoff Bodine is still basking in the golden glow of the Olympic bobsled that bears his name.
An older Bo-Dyn sled was on display in the media center at Atlanta Motor Speedway, commemorating the triumph of a program that made it to the top of the medal stand with the help of Bodine's finances and expertise. The U.S. four-man team, driving a sled known as the "Night Train,'' won the first U.S. gold in the event since 1948.
``I'm in awe of what happened,'' said Bodine, a longtime NASCAR driver who was on hand in Vancouver to cheer the American sled driven by Steve Holcomb. ``I'm just in awe of the experience. It was so cool to hang out with people from all over the world.
``I couldn't understand them most of the time,'' he jokingly added. ``There was a lot of head nodding.''
Bodine said the biggest thrill was being at a sporting event where athletes represented entire countries, not just a group of fans.
``When you win in NASCAR, you have your fan base,'' he said. ``But in the Olympics, you have a whole country cheering for you. It's very humbling to be a part of that. That's a very big playground they're playing on.''
Bodine also noted that all he heard in Vancouver were cheers. No booing allowed.
``When someone falls down, they wait for the athlete to get up and they all cheer,'' he said. ``When someone wins, they all cheer. In racing, you get a lot of boos. But in the Olympics, everyone cheers. No one boos. They appreciate what the athlete has done. It's just incredible to be around that environment.''
Two of the bobsled gold medalists, Holcomb and Steve Mesler, were on hand Saturday to cheer the 60-year-old Bodine as he made his first appearance in the truck series since 2004. Unfortunately, the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Dodge didn't have as much success as the Night Train.
Bodine went out with a gear problem and finished 26th, but he hopes to get back on the track soon.
``It's very hard for someone my age to get a ride,'' Bodine said. ``But I am NOT retired. Everywhere I go, I have to remind people I am not retired.''
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