John Deere 200
March 17, 2005
Atlanta
Motor Speedway
Atlanta Photos:
By Phil Cavali
Atlanta Post Race
Interview
The reporters from Truckseries.com are
very busy after the completion of the truck race.
Check out Johnny's interview after his third place finish in
Atlanta. Look on the right side of the page
under Friday Sounds and click on Mark Martin / Johnny Benson
for JB`s post race interview.
Click here
BDR Race Report - Atlanta
Coming off their first top-10 finish of the season two weeks
ago in California, Johnny Benson and the No. 23 Bill Davis
Racing team hoped for even better results this weekend in
Atlanta during the John Deere 200.
Benson, whose truck was adorned
with the Exide batteries logo for the weekend, was the 17th
of 39 competitors to take to the track for qualifying Friday
afternoon, and a lap of 179.755 mph earned him the 17th
starting spot for that evening’s race. When the green flag
waved for the start of the event, Benson wasted no time
making his way to the front of the field. By lap seven of
the 130-lap event, Benson had already driven into the top
10.
Benson communicated to crew
chief Rick Ren that his truck handled a touch loose heading
into the corners and a bit tight in the middle. Ren made
plans to make air pressure and track bar adjustments to the
truck during the first pit stop. Benson was running sixth
when the first caution flag of the day waved, giving the
team the opportunity to call Benson to the pits for four
tires, fuel and the needed changes to the truck. The pit
crew put together a lightning-fast stop and gained one spot
in the pits, placing Benson in fifth when the green flag
came out once again for the restart on lap 36.
With his sights set on the lead
truck, Benson held the fourth spot when another yellow flag
waved. The veteran driver let his crew know that no
adjustments were needed to his machine. Benson had one of
the fastest trucks on older tires, but the team bolted on
four fresh Goodyears and filled the tank with fuel when
Benson drove in for service on lap 62. Benson restarted
third after another fast pit stop.
Benson and David Reutimann waged
a spirited battle for second after the restart. Benson
found his truck handling a bit loose again, and the team
planned additional air pressure adjustments to help him in
the closing laps. Benson was running in third when a spin
in front of him resulted a caution with four laps remaining,
resulting in another green-white-checkered finish, the third
such finish as many NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races this
season. Benson eventually crossed the finish line in third,
scoring his best finish of the season.
Their first top-five finish of
the season helped Benson and his team advance four spots in
the points standings. They now stand in fifth place, only
127 markers behind leader Mark Martin.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series next heads to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for the
Kroger 200 on April 1.
NOTES:
-
This
week’s race truck
for Atlanta Motor Speedway is
Chassis
No. 23-70.
The No. 23 Bill Davis Racing team raced 23-70 at the
season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Benson
brought the truck across the finish line in the third
position.
-
Welcome aboard…
Bill Davis Racing
is pleased to announce that EXIDE, the leader in
consumer batteries, has come on board as a sponsor of
the No. 23 Toyota Tundra. EXIDE’s logos will adorn
the hood and sides of the No. 23 Toyota Tundra this
weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
-
Nice Stat…
Benson has two top-15
starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Last fall, Benson
was battling for the win and came across the finish
line in the grass to finish in the third position.
-
Listen and watch …
The John
Deere 200 is scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m. EST
Friday, March 17. It will broadcast live on Speed
(TV), MRN (radio) and XM radio (144).
Johnny Benson on racing at
Atlanta Motor Speedway:
“I am looking forward to
going to Atlanta. We have had some success there in the
NASCAR Cup car, and I have won a race there in the
NASCAR Busch Series. [Crew chief] Rick Ren and the boys
have been giving me great equipment and are bringing a
great truck to Atlanta.
“I
love night racing. It really is exciting for the
competitors, as well as the fans. I remember a couple
of years ago we ran the NASCAR Cup race there at night
because of a rain delay, and it really was a treat.”
Rick Ren on racing at Atlanta Motor
Speedway
“I am really looking
forward to going to Atlanta. We had a great run there
last fall, and I think we can go back and be as
competitive. We have really run well on the
mile-and-a-half racetracks over the last two years. The
No. 23 team is still looking for its first win, and I
think it might come this weekend at NASCAR’s fastest
track.”
|
|
Johnny Benson NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Career
Totals |
|
|
|
Races |
Wins |
Poles |
Top
5s |
Top
10s |
DNFs |
Money |
|
Totals |
52 |
0 |
1 |
14 |
28 |
4 |
712,996 |
