Daytona Race Report
Johnny Benson and the No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra team headed to Daytona International with new colors and high hopes.  The team had a strong test in January and thought it would be a contender for the win Friday night in the most prestigious race on the 2006 schedule. 

Courtesy - Toyota Motorsports

The team struggled throughout the first practice session to find balance in the truck.  The No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra team worked hard on different aspects of the Tundra in hopes it would handle well in the draft.  At the end of the practice session, Benson said he was happy with the way the truck handled.  He could get from the back to the front of the pack and could run on either the high side or low side of the racetrack.   

Like his Bill Davis Racing teammates, Benson went out early in the qualifying session.  The team was a little disappointed with its qualifying lap and hoped for a top-15 start.  To everyone’s surprise, the red-and-black Tundra emerged with a 10th-place starting position for Friday’s 250-mile event.  

Benson saw the green flag wave over the field and started to march his way toward the front.  On lap 11, Benson told his crew that his truck handled loose getting into the corners and needed to be tightened up in order to keep his truck in line.  He added that if someone got close to the right rear of his truck, it pushed the rear end of the No. 23 truck around the track.  

Crew chief Rick Ren and the No. 23 Tundra crew discussed changes they would make during their first pit stop, which they made under caution on lap 28.  The team changed four tires, filled the fuel cell with gasoline and lowered the trackbar in hopes of tightening the truck’s handling for the long run.

The race restarted on lap 30 and the No. 23 TCUV Tundra was ninth.  Benson only ran a handful of laps before the caution flag again was displayed to the field.  Benson pitted again for fresh tires and fuel.  Unfortunately, Benson had to revisit pit road on the next lap because of a missing lug nut.  As he was bringing his Tundra down pit road, he was struck by another truck, causing damage to the left side of the No. 23 Tundra.  The crew repaired Benson’s battered truck during the caution.

Benson restarted 29th and went a lap down to the leader on lap 69.  He became the “lucky dog” on lap 73 when the caution flag waved and returned to the lead lap.  The team took advantage of the caution to make a four-tire stop. 

When the race was restarted on lap 78, Benson had his machine in 23rd and was on a mission to get to the front of the field.  He said the damage really made the truck loose, and he was doing his best to hold on to his machine.  Benson once again diced through the field, and emerged in the 15th position when the checkered flag waved.  

The team will return to action this Friday night at California Speedway.  The race will start at 9:15 EST and can be seen live on Speed Channel.

JB's Daytona Comments
Thanks to the hard working team at truckseries.com you can hear Johnny and Erin Crocker's comments about their moment of disaster and how they feel their races went.   Click here  Note:   This will transfer you to their site.  Look at the right column and scroll down to the Sounds from Friday post race.  Look for Johnny Benson / Erin Crocker.  (02-18-06)
 

Tundras String Together in Daytona
Tundra drivers swept four of the top-five finishing positions in the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race of the 2006 season at Daytona International Speedway.  Toyota drivers Todd Bodine (second), Ted Musgrave (third), Mike Skinner (fourth) and Jack Sprague (fifth) crossed the finish line behind race-winner Mark Martin.

All four Toyota drivers were set to challenge Martin for the win, but a late race caution flag (laps 98-100) forced the race to be extended two laps.  Then, an accident on the final lap yielded a finish under caution -- which left all the Toyota drivers unable to challenge Martin.
 
Along with picking up four of the top-five finishing positions, Tundra drivers also finished ninth (David Reutimann), 14th (David Starr), 15th (Johnny Benson), 33rd (Joey Miller) and 35th (Bill Lester).

In qualifying at Daytona, Toyota Tundras grabbed seven of the top-10 positions on the starting grid.  Bill Lester started on the outside of row one and was joined by Mike Skinner (fifth), David Starr (sixth), Jack Sprague (seventh), Todd Bodine (eighth), Joey Miller (ninth) and Johnny Benson (10th) among the top-10.

Notes:

• This week’s race truck for Daytona International Speedway is Chassis No. 23-11.  The No. 23 team used this truck last year at Daytona International Speedway.  After starting 16th, the No. 23 team kept its nose clean all night but was caught in a last-lap wreck.  Despite the wreck, the team began its season with a 10th-place finish.
• Welcome aboard…  Bill Davis Racing is pleased to announce that Toyota Certified will serve as primary sponsor of Johnny Benson and the No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Tundra for up to 15 races during the 2006 campaign.
• Tested and approved …The No. 23 team tested chassis No. 23-11 in January at Daytona International Speedway.  The team was happy with the truck’s performance and is looking forward to Friday night’s race.
• Autographs anyone?  Benson will participate in Craftsman’s annual Daytona autograph session Thursday, Feb.16 at Volusia Mall in Daytona Beach.  The event is slated to start at 12:45 p.m. 
• Nice Stat…  Benson finished 10th in his sole NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Daytona International Speedway. 
• Is This thing on?  Benson will join his Bill Davis Racing teammates on “MRN Live” Monday, Feb. 13 at 7:05 p.m.  Benson will field questions about the 2006 season from veteran analyst Eli Gold.  The show will air live from Daytona USA and will broadcast nationally via MRN radio.
• Listen and watch … The GM FlexFuel 250 is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. EST Friday, Feb. 17.  It will broadcast live on Speed (TV), MRN and XM Radio channel 144.

Johnny Benson on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
“I am looking forward to going to Daytona.  The test was a lot better than 2005, so I think we will be good.  Our Toyota is stable, really quick and drives well.  The race in Daytona is so unpredictable; you have to stay out of trouble and wait for the last 10 laps to see where everyone lines up.  In 2005, we had that part covered and thought we had a chance to finish in the top five, but a big wreck happened right in front of us, which tore our truck up.  We still managed to finish in the top-10, which was a good day for our Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra.

“Everybody knows the risks of restrictor plate racing.  Even though we use the spacer plate, it is kind of the same theory.  It is going to be two or three-wide all day, but it seems to be more exciting than the cars.  The draft is such a huge deal with the trucks, that if you are off a little bit, you can catch back up.  During the test, we had 12 to 14-truck packs.  One lap you could be running last, and within two laps you could be in the lead.  It is a matter of being able to wait for the right time to get to the front.   

“I am really excited about 2006.  Our team stayed intact during the off-season, and with Toyota Certified Used Vehicles stepping up, I know that we will be a contender to win races.  You have to get out of Daytona with a solid finish, then go to the places that you have a little more control. 

Crew chief Rick Ren on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
“I am hoping we can start the 2006 season like we finished last season.  We were a contender to win every race, and I think we learned some things in the off-season that will help us do it again.  We had a real positive test with this truck, and hopefully we can pick up where we left off at the test.  We are not putting much emphasis on qualifying, but on getting the truck handling right for the race.”