JUNE 2005 NEWS

JB Fan Race Reporter
Many Johnny Benson fans do not have the opportunity to see Johnny race in person and would like to hear from JB fans on what it is like to attend a NASCAR race.  So, the JBFC is looking for more fan involvement.  We are looking for fans to be race reporters.  Race reports do not have to be detailed - just share your experience.  Your story is what counts.  Please contact the JBFC if interested.   (06-05-05)   

MIS Photos:  By:  Eric Smith
         
    

Toyota Tundra Stops Traffic
Bill Davis Racing loaned Johnny's MIS back-up truck for the fan club event.  The next day they stopped traffic in order to make the switch and load it on the transporter heading to MIS.  Photos by:  Judy Benson.  (06-21-05)

Berlin Photo:  By Tom Devette

Tom Thomas Beats Up-and-Comer Steven Wallace
Berlin Raceway fans who patiently waited through a 2-hour rain delay Wednesday night were eventually treated with the show of a lifetime, as the battle for the lead throughout The Berlin 100 presented by Meijer and Tony’s Pizza and the heart-stopping final two laps made the race one of the most exciting to be witnessed at Berlin Raceway in a very long time.

The pace was fast in The Berlin 100 Coors Light Late Model feature, which was stopped only once when #47 Fred Campbell hit the turn 4 wall on lap 4 and needed two wreckers to carry his car from the track. Campbell, who had been brushed by the #110 car of Steve Wallace (son of Rusty Wallace) earlier, was passed by Wallace just before crashing and was angry enough at the 17-year-old North Carolina driver to march onto the frontstretch towards Wallace's car during the red flag to confront Wallace. Campbell was stopped and ordered off the track by a race official. Meanwhile, #10 Johnny Benson was forced to retire from the race with overheating problems after having finished just 3 laps.

The purple #11 car of Leroy Magoon led the first 21 laps but was overtaken by #32 Ross Meeuwsen on lap 22. Wallace followed around Magoon one lap later for second position, then Wallace powered inside Meeuwsen for the lead on lap 30 and the two raced nose-to-nose for a lap before Wallace shot ahead for the lead on lap 31. One lap later #16 Chad Blount (currently third in ARCA points and a part-time NASCAR Busch Series driver), running in fourth place, slowed on the backstretch and retired from the race with mechanical problems. Wallace and Meeuwsen ran 1-2 until lap 62, when Meeuwsen grabbed the lead back as Wallace was unable to get around the lapped car of #16 Jamie Gritter. But if either driver had had a rear view mirror, he would have seen the #82 of Tom Thomas sneaking into the picture. Thomas, who started 10th, was up to fourth place midway through the race and passed #1 Randy Sweet for third on lap 77, then things got interesting. On lap 89, Wallace was again stuck behind the lapped #X car of Ray Clay, but Thomas was threatening to power past both Wallace and Clay. Several laps of tight racing later, Wallace and Thomas split Clay, with Wallace on the inside and Thomas on the outside for a nailbiting 3-wide move. Somehow Wallace came out in front, with no one between himself and leader Meeuwsen. Wallace reeled in Meeuwsen with Thomas sticking close behind, and on lap 97 Wallace and Meeuwsen sandwiched #18 Lee Anderson in another 3-wide move with Wallace again coming out in front, and this time it put him in the lead. But Thomas, still in third, wanted the lead, and it looked like he might have been patient enough earlier in the race to have more tires left than the leaders. Wallace got sideways coming out of turn 4 on lap 98 as his tire grip seemed to be slipping away, and somehow managed to save it as the entire crowd held its collective breath. The bobble forced him to slow just a fraction though, and on the backstretch of the same lap the faster Meeuwsen touched Wallace’s rear quarter panel and gave Thomas the opening he’d been looking for. Thomas shot around Wallace and Meeuwsen for first, just in time to see the white flag and then one lap later the checkered flag. It was the second win of the season for the Grandville driver. Wallace, who is splitting time between the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series before moving up to the NASCAR Busch Series when he turns 18 this season, finished second, followed by Meeuwsen, Sweet and #22 Brian Campbell.

NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace, on hand to sign autographs as part of his "Rusty's Last Call" tour, enjoyed every moment (except the last two laps) of his youngest son’s race and stepped into Victory Lane to congratulate Thomas on his win. Rusty signed autographs for two hours before the race, then was interviewed by PA Announcer Norm Jelsma for several minutes to the delight of the crowd.  (06-16-05)
 

Craftsman Truck Series Driver Johnny Benson
Fills in for Sterling Marlin in Nashville
The Federated Auto Parts 300 was scheduled for Saturday night at the Nashville Superspeedway, but officials postponed the race until Sunday because of heavy rains covering the area. The delay not only threw a wrench in travel plans, it also forced the No. 40 Ferris Industries team to find an alternate driver. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Johnny Benson was available and willing to aid the team.

Sterling Marlin was set to pull double duty, driving in both the NASCAR Busch Series and the Nextel Cup races. Marlin started his weekend in Pocono, Penn., on Friday, and flew to Nashville on Saturday, prepared to race. But when the inclement Tennessee weather forced cancellation of qualifying and postponed the race, NASCAR officials set the starting grid by owner’s points and moved the race to Sunday.

That gave Benson the opportunity to drive the No. 40 Ferris Industries Dodge since Marlin needed to travel back to Pocono to fulfill his Nextel Cup responsibilities.   “I haven’t been in a Busch car since St. Louis of last year,” Benson said Sunday before the race. “I’m looking forward to driving and hope I’ll have a good showing.”

When the green flag dropped at noon, the No. 40 Ferris Industries Dodge was forced to the back, along with the No. 60 Charter Communications Ford, due to the driver changes. But by lap 20 Benson had maneuvered his way up to 22nd position.

Lap 20 also brought out the first caution of the race and brought the No. 40 Ferris Industries Dodge to pit road. “The car is coming off the track a little bit,” Benson radioed to his crew. “Maybe we should drop the air pressure and raise the track bar some.”

“All right, Johnny, sounds good,” replied Scott Eggleston, who was filling in for crew chief Eddie Buffington. Buffington missed the race due to a death in his family. “Four tires and fuel, guys. Then, let’s take a half a pound of air out of the right front and go up a round on the track bar.”

Benson was back to green flag racing on lap 25 in 25th position, but nine laps later he had already moved the Ferris Industries Dodge into the Top-20.  “The air pressure adjustment was good, but I still need to be freed up a little more,” Benson radioed to his crew.  Even though the car was not at 100 percent for Benson, he was still able to work his way through traffic, gaining another three positions in just more four laps.

A mandatory competition caution was brought out on lap 40, but the Ferris team opted to stay on the track to gain some positions. This paid off, as Benson moved up to third place on lap 45 and took the lead on lap 47. Benson held on to the lead for several laps, but was passed by Martin Truex, Jr. on lap 51.  “The car is loose in and tight in the center. We need to take some air out of the left rear and about a half a pound out of the right front,” Benson suggested to his crew. “While I’m in, let’s pull the fender out on the right front,” Benson continued.

After a quick and effective 16-second pit stop, bad news hit the Ferris team as Benson--running well in the Top-10, feared a flat tire. “We’ve got a flat guys…I think…hang on…maybe not…maybe just something in the tire…it’s just not a good set of tires,” Benson reported to his team.  “The car is three times tighter and three times more loose,” reported Benson. “Let’s go with one round of bite, up on the track bar – guys we’ve got really bad tires, let’s fix that too.”

When a caution flag came on lap 102 Benson was running in 13th. After Eggleston had the crew change four tires, add fuel, and make several handling adjustments, the No. 40 Ferris team was back to green flag racing in 25th position. Continuing to run well, Benson gained another 10 spots in just 15 laps and by lap 168 was once again leading the race.

A long green-flag run forced teams to pit for fuel and other changes under green. After taking tires and fuel on lap 177, Benson exited pit road in 20th place.  Shortly after resuming racing, another caution came out on lap 188. But the team, with only one set of scuffs remaining, chose to stay out.

Benson, who was in eighth place when green flag racing resumed, hung tightly in the Top-10. Then shortly after the white flag fell to signal one lap to go, and clearly headed for a Top-10 finish, the driver J.J. Yeley made contact with the No. 40 Ferris Industries Dodge and forced Benson into a spin. When the dust settled, the only damage done was to Benson’s finishing order – he fell from eighth to 18th.  “I’m not sure what that 18 car was trying to do there at the end. I guess one position was more important than clean racing,” Benson said. “Sorry guys, you all had a good car today. It’s unfortunate this guy got into me.”

Clint Bowyer took the checkered flag and claimed his first career NASCAR Busch Series win. Kenny Wallace, Reed Sorenson, Tony Raines, and Martin Truex, Jr. rounded out the top-five. Benson’s teammates David Stremme and Tim Fedewa finished sixth and 21st, respectively.  (06-13-05)

Tailgate Club at MIS
Johnny Benson will be the guest speaker for the Tailgate Club at Michigan International Speedway.  The event date is Saturday, June 18th.  This Tailgate package includes:  Hospitality Credential, Lunch and Beverage, Closed Circuit TV, Music and Entertainment, and Pre Race Pit Access.  Cost:  Adult - $49   Children - $19.  For more information, contact MIS at 1-800-354-1010 or www.mispeedway.com.     (06-02-05) 

Berlin Ticket Sales
The ticket office at Berlin Raceway will be open late on Tuesday, June 14th for fans to get their tickets for Wednesday night.  Tickets for The Berlin 100 on June 15 are $25 in advance and $27 on the day of the race. Pit passes are $30 (16 and older; available day of race only). Children 3 to 12 are half price and 2 and under are free. Tickets are on sale now. For more ticket information please call Berlin Raceway at (616) 677-5000.   (06-12-05)

Johnny in Nashville
The rain in Nashville forced NASCAR to reschedule the Busch Race until today at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern).  The race will be shown on FX after today's CUP race.   Johnny is subbing for Sterling Marlin in the #40 FitzBradshaw-owned NASCAR Busch Series car.  (06-12-05)
 

#23 Toyota Tundra at Fan Club Event
Exciting News!  Johnny's #23 Toyota Tundra will be making an appearance at the JBFC club event.  The JBFC would like to thank the efforts of Toyota and Bill Davis Racing for making this appearance possible!  (06-12-05)

Congratulations
To Bob Mattocks of New York and Kevin Seely of Michigan who correctly predicted that Johnny and the #23 Bill Davis Team would finish 2nd at Texas Speedway.  Congratulations!  (06-11-05)

Silent Auction
For those JB fans who are coming to the JBFC event on the 14th ...  Johnny is bringing his #23 truck hood from the Dover Race as part of the items to be auctioned to raise money for charity.  (06-10-05)


Rusty Wallace's son Steve Wallace to race
in The Berlin 100 June 15
Berlin Raceway announced today that Steve Wallace, 17-year-old youngest son of NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Rusty Wallace, will race in The Berlin 100 presented by Meijer and Tony's Pizza.

Steve Wallace has an opening in his schedule next week and will be joining his father and Johnny Benson at Berlin Raceway. He will drive Benson’s second Coors Light Late Model car in the 100-lap special event. Wallace, from Mooresville, NC, is splitting his 2005 season between the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series. He has finished as high as seventh in each series (on Feb. 26 in Hooters Pro Cup and on May 22 in ARCA). Wallace won the Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Fla., last December, the most prestigious Late Model race in the country - a race that even his father couldn't win in 12 attempts. Steve plans to begin racing in the NASCAR Busch Series this fall when he turns 18, the minimum age to race in that series, and has already been signed by Dodge to a development deal.

Wallace is the next in a long line of rising stars to visit Berlin Raceway, many of whom passed through while racing on the ASA or ARCA circuits. The visit by Wallace, a big name in stock car racing (in addition to father Rusty, uncles Kenny and Mike have both raced in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series), brings back memories to Berlin’s Director of Race Operations Mike Strevel.

"In terms of how big a deal this is, it reminds me of back in the late '90's when Adam Petty raced a Late Model here in a special Wednesday race," Strevel said of the fourth-generation Petty driver who was on the fast path to superstardom before being killed in a crash while practicing for just his second career NEXTEL Cup race in 2000. "It's really great to see one of the next generation of NASCAR superstars visit Berlin, especially one with such a great family tradition of racing. Steve has an incredible future ahead of him."

Rusty Wallace will appear on Wednesday, June 15, for an autograph session with fans as part of his "Rusty's Last Call" farewell tour, celebrating his final year of racing on the NASCAR Nextel Cup tour. Wallace will sign autographs from 6 to 8 p.m., during The Berlin 100 presented by Meijer and Tony's Pizza, but will not race in the event due to a contract stipulation with team owner Penske Racing. Wallace is in his 22nd and final season on the Nextel Cup circuit and won the championship in 1989.

Johnny Benson will race his familiar #10 Berger Chevrolet Coors Light Late Model in the event. He is the defending champion of the race. Benson races three to four times a season at his home track and is instrumental in bringing big-name talent, such as Tony Stewart, Michael Waltrip, Ken Schrader and Bobby Labonte, to Berlin Raceway (Labonte will race for a second straight year on August 17 in “The Chet”).

Tickets for The Berlin 100 on June 15 are $25 in advance and $27 on the day of the race. Pit passes are $30 (16 and older; available day of race only). Children 3 to 12 are half price and 2 and under are free. Tickets are on sale now. For more ticket information please call Berlin Raceway at (616) 677-5000.  (06-09-05)

Johnny Qualifies 4th in Texas
After spending the day in intense heat, Johnny and the #23 team hard work paid off with a 4th place qualifying position.  Mike Skinner earned the pole followed by Rick Crawford, David Starr, JOHNNY and Bill Lester.  Bill Davis Racing did a tremendous job today - placing all three trucks in the top five! 
(06-09-05)
 

Dover Photos:  By:  Mike Mayne
Thanks to Mike for sharing his photos at Dover.  Mike and his wife Sherri put on many miles
from Pennsylvania  to see the Craftsman Truck Race.  To bad Johnny's day was so short! 

A Fan's Perspective:  By Mike Lanzolott
What a day for JB fans who made the trip to Dover!   Rain played havoc with the schedule and the timing of when the truck race would be run!  Mike, Nancy, Sandi, Mike and Sherry had quite the experience.  Thank you, Mike for reporting on JB's short day! 

After 2 failed attempts the MBNA Racepoints 200 was finally run at 4:45 on 6/4.  The race, which was originally scheduled for 4:30 on 6/3 and 9 am on 6/4 featured David Starr starting on pole and Johnny Benson starting 15th.  The trucks were the only series that was able to qualify the field due to inclement weather in the Northeast for most of the weekend.

Before a whole lap could be completed a wreck on the backstretch took care of 6 trucks including Johnny Benson, Brendan Whitt, and Steve Park.  Whitt and Johnny both returned later for short stints. 
    
The field restarted at lap 8 but the 2nd caution, involving Kelly Sutton, came at lap 9.  The 3rd caution slowed the field at lap 38.  Ron Hornaday was leading at this time.  The leaders pitted on lap 38 with Hornaday holding the lead.      David Starr brought out the 4th caution at lap 42.  The next caution did not appear until lap 110, Robert Presley being the only truck involved.  The leaders pitted at lap 112 with Ron Hornaday still holding the lead before and after stops.  The 6th caution was at lap 117 and the 7th at lap 146.
    
Most of the leaders pitted on lap 118 which proved costly to leader Ron Hornaday.  Hornaday, who dominated most of the race, had a loose lug nut and was forced to pit again on lap 150.  David Reutimann, who did not pit, inherited the lead.  The 8th caution, at lap 167, was brought out by Bill Lester.  Jack Sprague, who was having a strong day, brought out the 9th caution on lap 174 after contact with Todd Bodine.  Leader Reutimann still did not pit.

On lap 182, Kyle Busch on fresh tires, was finally able to overtake Reutimann. 
The 10th caution was brought out by Todd Bodine on lap 186 while Dennis Setzer and Brendan Gaughen brought out the 11th and final caution at lap 192.
In the end it was Kyle Busch taking the victory with Tony Stewart finishing 2nd.

PS....  The gentleman working at the Toyota gear rig said Johnny is by far the most asked for driver.  (06-05-05)
 

Johnny Finishes 34th in Dover
Impatient driving on the first lap of the Craftsman Truck Race landed Johnny right in the middle of a multi truck pile up.  The #23 Toyota Tundra suffered severe damage.  Johnny returned to the track on lap 75 to make several more laps to finish 34th.  He drops to 10th in the point standings.   (06-04-05)
 

Truck Race Moved to 4:30 p.m.
It is still drizzling in Dover.  NASCAR has changed the schedule and the truck race is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m.  Cup Practice and the BGN will proceed before.  The race is still scheduled to be tape delayed at 7:30 p.m.   For continued updates check Truckseries.com for current details.  (06-04-05)

Dover Truck Race - Rained Out
Rain has been hovering over Dover, Delaware today.  All activities were a wash out.  The Craftsman Truck race will begin on Saturday at 9:00 a.m.  It will be shown on SPEED at 7:30 p.m.  (06-03-05)

Fan Club Event
Tickets are still available for the 2005 Johnny Benson Fan Club event.  We have extended the deadline for ticket sales until Saturday, June 4th.  This is your chance to hear what Johnny has to say about his racing career.  Our video presentation will also include photos that Johnny has taken and selected for this event.  Click Here for details.  (05-23-05)

Popular School Bus Races Set for Encore Saturday
The wildly popular School Bus Races are back! Once again this Saturday, June 4, School Bus Races will take place at Berlin Raceway as part of a weekly points show presented by Sunrise Ministries/Boyne Machine.

The School Bus Races - yes, actual big yellow beasts formerly used to transport kids - are a tie-in with Reading Club Night. Saturday is the second of two Reading Club Nights at Berlin. The buses will again slam and bang for two four-lap heat races and a six-lap feature race in the middle of the regular racing show (sometime between 8 and 9 p.m., depending on how fast the regular heat races finish). The buses will be painted with “war paint” by participating schools and will be driven by Berlin’s Coors Light Late Model division drivers Billy Shotko (defending School Bus Race champion) and Paul Namey; 2004 Engine Pro Super Stock champion Brian Wiersma; and Standale Lumber Pro Stock drivers Andrew Nylaan and Todd Root.

Twenty-two area schools participated in the Reading Club Program, which celebrates March as Reading Month. Any of the 5,000 students who attend the 22 elementary schools were eligible to participate. Students who read at least 450 minutes during the month of March earned a complimentary ticket to attend one of two Reading Club Nights at Berlin Raceway (May 7 and June 4). Some of the schools participating in the program are coming as groups; participants attending individually must present their bookmark with minutes read filled in as proof of completion of program. A Reading Club banner will be on display for all participating students to sign.

The Reading Club Program is sponsored by Alticor, Kent Communications Inc., McDonald’s, Gerrit’s Appliance, FedCom Credit Union, Michigan Education Savings Program and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Saturday’s races are presented by Sunrise Ministries/Boyne Machine. Events include weekly points races involving Coors Light Late Model, Engine Pro Super Stock, Standale Interiors Pro Stock and Standale Lumber Sportsman divisions, plus a pre-race on-track all-division autograph session at 6:15 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m. and racing gets under way at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $11 in advance and $12 at the gate for general admission; kids 3-12 are half price and 2 and under are free. Pit passes are $25 (16 and older only).  (06-01-05)