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MARCH 2005 NEWS
Atlanta Photos -
By: Phil Cavali
The JBFC would like to thank Bill Davis Racing for
contracting with NASCAR photographer, Phil Cavali for the
2005 season. This is good news for JB fans as we are
able to use his photos on this site.
(03-24-05)
Johnny Interviewed After Qualifying
If you would like to hear
the audio on what Johnny had to say after his great
qualifying run in Atlanta -
click here. Look to the right side of the
page under sounds.
(03-20-05)
Track Review - Michigan International Speedway
This week's track review is
MIS. If you would like to share your race track or
traveling tips with other JB fans, you may email send an
email to
support@johnnybenson.com or post your response on the
JBFC message board. To check out the comments
from JB fans on other tracks -
click here. Thank you for your participation!
(03-14-05)
Bus Trip to MIS Truck Race
Thank you for giving us your feedback for
interest for a bus trip to the MIS Truck race! Plans
are moving forward to make this trip possible. My goal
is to have the details finalized by the April JBFC
newsletter which will be mailed out from Grand Rapids on
March 28th. This trip will be offered to fan club
members first. If the bus does not fill up in 2 wks, then I
will proceed with offering to all JB fans on this website.
Again - thank you for your feedback as I work on this project!
(Barb 03-14-05)
Rule Change for Craftsman Truck Series
The Craftsman Truck Series rule book has been
amended to require body extension panels and larger cowl
flaps beginning with the March 18 World Financial Group 200
at Atlanta Motor Speedway, NASCAR officials announced
Thursday.
The rule changes, according
to Craftsman Truck Series Director Wayne Auton, give teams
the opportunity to reduce costs and improve the handling of
their race trucks. The amendments follow recent wind-tunnel
tests conducted by NASCAR."Evaluation of our rules is an
ongoing process based upon NASCAR's three principles --
assisting our teams reduce costs, foster close competition
and safety," Auton said. "Addition of the skirt flaps will
enable our competitors to utilize the same truck on a more
varied configuration of tracks.
"Following incidents
involving several trucks during our race at Daytona
International Speedway last month, NASCAR felt it necessary
to explore a number of avenues to make the trucks more
stable and driveable. The rule changes are an outgrowth of
this research and testing."
Under Section 20-B-3.6 of the
rule book, all trucks will be required to install a vertical
extension -- side skirt -- flush with the outer sheet metal
at the bottom, on both the right and left rocker panels. The
extensions must be the same length front to rear as the
rocker panel, cut only for exhaust and jack clearance with a
minimum of four inches ground clearance on the right side
and three inches of ground clearance on the left side.
The lower edge of the
extension may be constructed of a plastic type material.Rule
20-B-5.12.2 has been amended to increase the size of the
truck's cowl flaps -- two trap doors, hinged at the front in
a way that the wind will keep them closed when the truck is
moving forward -- from two inches by 10 inches to four
inches by 15 inches.
(03-10-05)
Happy 95th Birthday
Alma "Grandma" Flora
Johnny
and Grandma Flora
The JBFC
would like to send birthday wishes to
our grandma, Alma Flora who is
celebrating her birthday on Saturday, March 19th.
She is a
strong supporter of Johnny and the JBFC. She does a
great job
with the mailing and can be found at all the JBFC events
in Grand Rapids.
If you
would like to send her a birthday greeting you may post
on the JBFC message board or send an email to
support@johnnybenson.com.
We are going to share your greetings with her on Sunday
as we celebrate her birthday. Your greeting will
make a wonderful
gift, although Johnny can top this with a win on Friday!
Atlanta Testing Results
The Atlanta Motor Speedway released these results from the
Craftsman Truck Testing this week.
(03-10-05)
#5 Mike Skinner, Craftsman Truck, 181.414
#22 Bill Lester, Craftsman Truck, 179
#38 Brandon Whitt, Craftsman Truck, 178.723
#12 Robert Huffman, Craftsman Truck, 178.666
#16 Jack Sprague, Craftsman Truck, 178.321
#23 Johnny Benson, Craftsman Truck, 177.238
#9 Shigeaki Hattori, Craftsman Truck, 176.729
#66 Todd Bodine, Craftsman Truck, 176.673
#19 Regan Smith, Craftsman Truck, 176.280
#30 Chad Chaffin, Craftsman Truck, 170.867
Atlanta Testing
Testing continue continue for
the remainder of the week as teams prepare for the upcoming
March 18-20 Golden Corral 500 weekend in Atlanta, GA.
Drivers expected for Wednesday's test are NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
driver Mike Wallace; Busch driver Shane
Hmiel; and Craftsman Truck drivers
Johnny Benson,
Todd Bodine, Chad Chaffin, Shige Hattori, Robert Huffman,
Bill Lester, Mike Skinner, Jack Sprague, Brandon Whitt.
Tests are closed to the public.
(03-09-05)
Q & A - JBFC
(03-09-05)
Do you think Ken at
Momentum Sports tours would offer any mini-bus tours to
some closer tracks where the trucks race? Mansfield,
Milwaukee, or IRP?
Thank you for the question.
Momentum Tours is not interested in organizing a bus trip
for the truck races. I am investigating the
possibility for a trip to MIS in June. If it is a go
- it will be posted on this site. (Barb)
Are there plans in
the works to create a diecast for Johnny and the #23
Toyota Tundra?
According to Bill Davis Racing - there
are no plans right now. If Johnny's team gets
a sponsor, then there might be a possibility for diecast
in the future. (Barb)
Daytona Photos
By: Judy
Benson
(03-08-05)
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Driver Introductions |
Johnny
and Steve Park
tour the track
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Hanging
out with the #23 crew |
Johnny
and Teddy Segars
of Orlando,Florida |
Johnny B - #23 Decals
 #23 - Johnny B
-
3 inch Round Decal
The JBFC
now has
#23 - Johnny B decals
available for you to purchase.
Check out the merchandise
page for ordering details (03-08-05)
Momentum Sports Tour
They are offering a trip to the
Nextel Cup Race at Michigan on Sunday, June 19th.
This will make a great Father's Day gift. This
package includes a motorcoach tour, grilled lunch and
quality seats. Ticket package price are $145 and
$175. Avoid the traffic jam by taking a bus trip!
For more information, you may call Ken at Momentum Tours -
616-249-8687. Other tours include the spring
Talladega race and the August Bristol race.
(03-06-05)
Berlin Raceway Tickets On Sale Tuesday
2005 Season Packed With New Promotions
Tickets for Berlin Raceway's
2005 season will go on sale Tuesday, March 8 at 10:00 a.m.
Tickets for all events, including "The Chet" Open
Invitational, the Berlin 100 and multiple other special
event nights, will be available beginning Tuesday.
There is no limit to the number of
tickets that can be purchased. Cash, check, VISA,
Mastercard, Discover and American Express will all be
accepted as payment for tickets. Tickets can be purchased
at the Berlin Raceway administrative office (2060 Berlin
Fair Drive, Marne, MI) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday. Tickets are also available online at
www.berlinraceway.com and at www.ticketmaster.com, or in
person at TicketMaster outlets in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio
and Illinois. Ticket prices for weekly races are $11 in
advance ($12 on the day of the race), while special event
prices range from $15 to $25 in advance.
Berlin's 2005 schedule opens on April 16
and is loaded with weekly points races featuring the Coors
Light Late Model, Engine Pro Super Stock, Standale Lumber
Pro Stock and Standale Interiors Sportsman divisions.
Several special event traveling series are returning to the
schedule: the ARCA Request/Sara Lee 200 presented by GFS
Marketplace national series (July 16) as well as two
appearances by the lightning-fast Auto Value
Super Sprint Series (June 25 and September 3) and the
popular CRA Super Series (formerly known as the Sunoco Super
Series) on June 18 and August 20. Two new traveling series
will make appearances at Berlin Raceway: the MSA
Supermodifieds on May 14 and the USAC Midwest Ford Focus
Midgets on August 20.
The track's two traditional open
invitationals, the Berlin 100 presented by Meijer and Tony's
Pizza (Wednesday, June 15) and "The Chet" presented by
Comerica Bank (Wednesday, August 17), will both return to
Berlin in 2005. The two races will feature Johnny Benson and
other Nextel Cup drivers TBD.
The 55th Anniversary Night is set for
Saturday, July 30, with a weekly points show, the Vintage
Racing Organization of America and special guest Johnny
Benson. The night will wrap up with one of Berlin's six
fireworks shows. Fireworks will also follow the races on
April 30, June 25, July 16, August 6 and September 3.
Other highlights of the 2005 schedule
include All Faiths Night (April 30) which will feature the
all new "Faster Pastor" event where clergy members will have
the chance to race around the track to raise funds for their
church. "$1 Beer and $1 Dogs" are on the schedule twice (May
28 and September 3) along with the ever
popular school bus races (May 7 and June 4).
Another new event that's sure to become a fan favorite, the
Spectacular Drags, will take place on August 13. For one
night only, fans will be able to bring their own cars and
race against other fans.
The Berlin Raceway Ticket Office, located
at the entrance gates to the grandstands, will open for
individual ticket sales later in the spring. Season ticket
plans and group outings are available now by contacting the
Berlin Raceway Offices. The administrative offices are
located in the white building at the next drive past the
main entrance to the fairgrounds.
(03-06-05)
California - A
Fan's Perspective
By: Ray
Patten
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It was disappointing that
Thursday’s truck practice was not open to the public, but on
Friday I met some very nice JB fans,
JB Fan in CA
(Craig and his wife) and
SoCal fan (Fred). |
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Fred and I sat directly inline
with Johnny’s pit, Johnny had a great truck with an
excellent race setup the team made the transition from
afternoon practice and next day morning qualifying to night
time racing perfectly, I don’t think they made any
adjustment except for air pressure for the whole race.
It was fun to listen to Johnny and Greg discuss what air
pressure adjustments to make on the first stop, first 1 lb
in the left rear a few laps later maybe in the left rear and
the right front a few laps later maybe only ½ lb, later
maybe only in the right front. At lap 11 Johnny said he was
way too loose by lap 19 he said he was too tight. On the
first pit stop, lap 45, they took out ½ lb of air from all
tires except the right front. Johnny had a little problem
getting started on restarts but once his tires heated up he
was moving up fast, as Johnny and Greg said “it was sporty”
Greg gave him a lot of “you’re the Man”, “Good job”, “Great
lap” and was giving him the lap times for him and the leader
which were often the same time.
When Johnny
was involved in the accident on the back stretch he came
around and said I have 4 flat tires, he pitted while the
pits were closed came in got tires and went back out, came
in 2 or 3 more times to get sheet metal pulled away from the
tires. When the track went green Johnny thought he was
having more tire problems “ I think I have a tire going down
or something” it turned out it was the damage to the truck
that caused the handling problems however he moved up in
traffic passing trucks, 1 or 2 were trying to save fuel for
the end but it doesn’t matter, Johnny moved up from 22nd
to 12th place in the last 15 laps.
It was a
fun race to watch, Johnny had a top 1st-3rd-place truck, it
was great to see Johnny pass trucks especially after all the
damage and he was very competitive for the entire race. Greg
and Johnny worked very well together.
(Thank you, Ray - for
sharing your experience! 03-04-05)
Condolences
The JBFC sends our
deepest sympathy to Bill and Gail Davis on the loss of
Bill's father this week.
(03-04-05)
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