JB Finishes 30th in
Martinsville
It was a dismal finish for
Johnny and the #23 Toyota Tundra team. The day started
out promising with a 7th place qualifying start.
During the first 125 laps, Johnny ran in the top 10.
The last 125 laps resulted in mishaps and a 30th place
finish. PR to follow.
(04-01-06)
Memories
Thanks to Dave Watson of Maryland who sent in these photos
of John Benson Sr. racing years ago.
(03-29-06)
Congratulations!
To Johnny's BDR teammate
Bill Lester and his wife Cheryl on the birth of their second
son, Austin Richard Lester, who arrived Tuesday, March 28,
at 9lb oz and 20.5" tall .....
(03-29-06)
NASCAR's Kyle Busch
to race in "The Chet"
Tickets for all races on sale now
Berlin Raceway announced that NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Kyle
Busch will join the growing list of NASCAR stars who list
racing at the famed 7/16 mile track in Marne on their
resume. Busch has agreed to race in "The Chet" presented by
Comerica on Wednesday, August 16, along with NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series driver Johnny Benson and the rest of
the Berlin Raceway Coors Light Late Model field.
Busch, the reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year and
younger brother of 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Kurt
Busch, is the youngest race winner in Cup history, winning
for the first time last September at Fontana at just 20
years, 4 months and 2 days old. Driving the #5 Kellogg's
Chevrolet, Busch currently stands sixth in Nextel Cup points
after finishing third last Sunday at Las Vegas.
Busch joins a growing list of NASCAR stars including Rusty
Wallace, Bobby Labonte (twice), Michael Waltrip, Tony
Stewart (twice), Kenny Schrader (twice), Dick Trickle and of
course Benson (18 times), who have appeared and/or competed
at Berlin Raceway in the last five years. Busch also made an
appearance at Berlin in 2002 as a 17-year-old in the June 1
ASA feature, finishing 11th. He will drive one of Benson's
two Coors Light Late Model cars built specifically for
racing at Berlin in the 100-lap feature named after track
founder Chet Mysliwiec.
Benson will race three times this season at Berlin: Opening
Night on Saturday, April 15; in the ASA Challenge Series 200
on Wednesday, June 14; and in "The Chet" on Wednesday,
August 16. Benson has three wins and 12 top five finishes in
18 races at Berlin since 2001. The 11-year NASCAR veteran is
currently ninth in points racing his #23 Toyota Certified
Used Vehicles Toyota in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series.
Berlin Raceway's Director of Race Operations Mike Strevel
said he's excited to see a rising star with such solid
credentials finding the time to race at Berlin. "I'm
excited to have the youngest-ever Nextel Cup race winner and
defending Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year coming to Berlin,"
Strevel said. "It's important to point out that even in this
day and age of drivers having ever-busier schedules, Berlin
Raceway is still able to attract stars of this caliber to
not only appear at Berlin but also to compete in the Coors
Light Late Model series here. Berlin truly is one of the
most prestigious short tracks in the country, and fans will
see why when they attend ‘The Chet.'"
Berlin Raceway's 2006 season opens on Saturday, April 15 and
runs through Saturday, September 30. In addition to the four
weekly racing series (Coors Light Late Model, Engine Pro
Super Stock, De-Jay Slick Truck Pro Stock and Standale
Lumber Sportsman divisions), Berlin will host several
prestigious traveling series, including ASA (June 14 and
August 19), ARCA (July 15), Auto Value Super Sprints (May
13, June 24 and September 2), and ISMA Supermodifieds
(September 30), among others. Also of note on the jam-packed
schedule are the first-ever two-day race, the $7,500-to-win
Boyne Machine 200 on Friday and Saturday, September 15 and
16, which will also be the longest-ever Coors Light Late
Model race in the track's 56-year history, and the first
all-star style event, the Speedbidz.com Shootout on
September 23, which will include all Coors Light Late Model
drivers who have set fastest qualifying times over the
course of the season racing in a $5,000-to-win 40-lap
shootout.
Tickets for "The Chet" as well as for the full Berlin
Raceway season are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased in
several ways: 1) In person at Berlin Raceway from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. Monday through Friday (please call ahead to make sure
someone is available) and 11:30 a.m. until the end of the
race on racedays; 2) In person at Fifth Third Ballpark from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. Saturday; 3) Online at www.berlinraceway.com (add $2
per ticket service charge); 4) By phone to Berlin Raceway,
(616) 677-5000, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
(add $3 per order service charge); 5) By mail or fax to
Berlin Raceway, 2060 Berlin Fair Drive, Marne, MI 49435; fax
(616) 677-0122 (add $3 per order service charge). Berlin
Raceway is now partnering with TicketReturn to facilitate
ticket sales.
Ticket prices for weekly races are $12, while special event
prices range from $10 to $25 for adults (half price for
children ages 6 to 12; free for 5 and under). 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.
(03-27-06)
In Memory
The JBFC would like to extend their sympathy to the family
of Armand Johnson who lost his life last week.
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Johnny and Armand
July - 2005 |
1978 - The Crew at Berlin
Ron Piechocki, Dr. Harris, Johnny, John Sr., Howard Bradley,
Armand Johnson
and Russ Hoekwater
|
Mr. Armand G. Johnson, age 77,
passed away on Wednesday, March 22, 2006. He grew up on a
farm in Lakeview and was a 1947 graduate of Lakeview High
School where he excelled in mathematics and was a member of
the football team.
As a brave young man he entered in the US Navy, serving
during the Korean Conflict. One of his friends had a sister
named Lois, and Armand finally got the courage to ask her
for a date. On July 4, 1951, Armand and Lois were married in
Orange, Texas.
Skilled as a tool and die maker, Armand worked for
Greenville Tool & Die, Warren Tool & Die, Auto Die, and
retired from Progressive Tool & Die. For many years he
worked as a mechanic for Johnny Benson, Sr. Racing Team. He
taught his children good work ethics and to respect your
elders.
For over 25 years, Armand and Lois have been members of the
Tyler Creek Family. He was a member of Assumption BVM
Catholic Church in Belmont, former member of the Usher Club
and American Legion Post #258 Boat and Canoe Club. In
Palmetto, FL, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Armand is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, the
former Lois Hessel; children, Shiela and Dan Matthews and
Patty and Steve Summers, all of Grand Rapids;
daughter-in-law, Mrs. Mary Johnson of Jenison; son-in-law,
Mark Cornetet of Baldwin; Grandchildren, Ed Braman, Brad and
Amanda Braman, Steve Cornetet, Tricia Grotenhuis, Chris
Cornetet, Dan Summers, Mindy and Jeremy McKersie, and Darcie
Matthews; many nieces and nephews; in-laws, Mrs. Gatha
McCall, Mrs. Barbara Walkington, Max (Barbara) Hessel, and
Elaine and Richard Karcher. He was preceded in
death by his children, Armand "Butch" Johnson, Dana Cornetet,
and Daniel Johnson. Those planning an expression of sympathy
are asked to consider Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
(03-27-06)
Milwaukee Mile
Installs SAFER Barriers:
The Milwaukee
Mile has taken another step in the direction of recent
safety and facility improvements, with the installation of
the SAFER Barrier System, an energy-dissipating system that
has been fastened to the speedway’s existing concrete wall.
(3-25-06)
Meet a JB Fan
Johnny is lucky to have fans throughout the United States
and Canada. We would like to take this opportunity to
introduce you to Becki from Southern California. She
is dedicated to JB and the interaction with fans on the
message board. Becki, thank you for sharing your
story!
Click here for complete interview.
(03-16-06)
Here's your chance to own
Johnny's personal vehicle. His Cadillac Escalade Ext
is currently for sale.
Click here for details
.....
Annual Contests
Just a reminder that the deadline to submit predictions to
the JBFC Annual contest is Thursday, March 16th. You
may either submit them via email
support@johnnybenson.com or to the fan club address.
(03-10-06)
March Newsletter
The March Newsletter for fan club members will be mailed
from Michigan by Saturday, March 11th. Sorry for the
delay! (03-09-06)
Congratulations!
The JBFC would like to congratulate Chuck Youcheff of
Pennsylvania! Chuck is the winner of "Katelyn's
Birthday Contest" that was held on March 7, 2006.
Special thanks to Toyota Certified Used Vehicles for
supporting the JBFC with great prizes!
(03-08-06)
Congratulations!
The JBFC would like
to congratulate our February Contest winners. To
Alan Stills of Ohio who won the Daytona
contest and to Mark Fritsma of Michigan
who won the California contest. They are the lucky
recipients of the 1:24
Racing Champions Diecast.
Special thanks to Toyota Certified Used Vehicles for
supporting the JBFC!
(03-06-06)
California Photos:
By Ray Patten
Ray Patten traveled from Arizona to at the Craftsman Truck
Race in Fontana, California. Ray made sure he made it
in time for qualifying because Johnny was going out third.
The best part of the race was watching Johnny gain all those
positions to earn a top five finish. The most amazing
part was having to get back to the JBFC message board to
learn what was said on the television broadcast.
Thanks for sharing your photos, Ray!
(03-06-06)
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Johnny
driving down pit lane |
JB Fans
unite in California |
California Photos:
By Phil
Cavali
