Moroso's Fatal Crash Hurts Nascar Image, Bodine Says

CONCORD, N.C. - NASCAR's public image has been tainted by news that Rob Moroso was drunk at the time of his fatal car accident, driver Geoff Bodine said.

``I think our perception in the public is bad,'' Bodine said.

Moroso had a 0.22 blood alcohol level, more than twice the legal drunk level of 0.10, at the time of his death, according to a medical examiner's report. He and the driver in another car were killed when their autos collided on a state road about 30 miles north of Charlotte.

``This makes all of us in the garage area a different person. That's why we have to watch out for each other and stick our noses in each other's business,'' said Bodine, whose car is sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, which makes Budweiser and other beers.

Bodine stressed he didn't think drinking and driving was common among stock-car racers. But it will be hard to convince people that's the case, he said.

``The problem was he was drinking and driving,'' he said. ``People look at this and say, `There's a race-car driver who can get out there and run 200 mph, but he can't drink and drive.''

Bodine said he had no problem driving a car that's sponsored by an alcoholic product.

``I feel good about it,'' he said, saying Anheuser-Busch has taken a leading role in promoting responsible drinking in its ``Know When to Say When'' campaign.

``I hope the thing we all learn is `Don't drink and drive,' '' Bodine said. ``We lost two lives here, I hope this will help save a whole bunch of lives.''