Brett Bodine signed Ralphs Supermarkets to sponsor his car for 2000, and sold half the team to businessman Richard Hilton. The latter deal fell through, but while he was still able to keep Ralphs as a sponsor, the failed buy-out put the team behind in its preparation for the season. Brett struggled and failed to qualify for 5 of the season's first 21 races, falling all the way to 40th in the point standings. Things started to improve after Mike Hillman came on as crew chief mid-season. Bodine qualified for the season's final 13 races with 4 top 20 finishes, including a season's best 14th at Homestead, and finished the season 35th in points.  Brett also set the track record at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during second round qualifying for the Brickyard 400.  This track record would stand until Tony Stewart went faster during qualifying in 2002. Brett became the first Cup series driver to start wearing the HANS device in 2000.