Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 - June 23, 2006
The Milwaukee Mile - West Allis, WI

Johnny Benson and the No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Tundra team headed to The Milwaukee Mile still joyous over their first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in Michigan.  The team knew its Tundra was capable of winning Friday night, but luck would have to go the team’s way if it was to capture a second consecutive victory.  Fortunately, everything fell into place for Benson to take his second career Craftsman Truck Series victory. 

Milwaukee Photos
By:  Phil Cavali

The team’s Milwaukee ride, chassis No. 23-60, has only seen action at two other racetracks, with both starts yielding top-five showings.  Immediately after the practice session started, Benson said he was happy with his flamed Tundra’s performance.  He told crew chief Rick Ren that the truck handled a little loose going into the corners, but he felt like it would tighten up as the temperature dropped.  The team fine-tuned the truck, and it appeared the No. 23 was a solid top-five truck when the final practice session ended.  

When the green flag was displayed to the field for the start of the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee Mile 200, Benson had his No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra in the fourth position.  The truck immediately proved it would be a contender for the win.  On lap 25, Benson reported to his crew that the truck handled a little loose in and tight off the turns.  The team began planning changes to make during the first pit stop of the night, which occurred under caution on lap 38.  The four-tire stop also included a slight chassis adjustment, which the crew hoped would dial its Tundra in for the rest of the race.  

Benson restarted third on lap 41.  By lap 56, Benson had taken the lead, which he held for a handful of laps.  On lap 66, he told his crew that the adjustment really helped, but the truck was still slipping and sliding through the corners.   

Despite the slippery handling, Benson remained in the top five through the first 100 laps of the 200-lap event.  He began thinking about how he could regain the lead.  Benson brought his No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra down the pit lane under caution on lap 115.  After the four-tire stop, Benson restarted eighth on lap 118.  

It only took 12 laps for him to find his way back to the lead.  After briefly losing the top spot, Benson took the lead for good on lap 155.  Benson ran consistent lap times during the final 45 circuits, and when he crossed the finish line to take the victory, he was 3.67 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Mike Bliss. 

This was the No. 23 Toyota Tundra’s second consecutive victory.  Benson is now among six drivers to capture their first two Craftsman Truck Series victories in consecutive races.  The win also enabled the team to move into third in the points standings, only four points out of second place.  

The Craftsman Truck Series heads to Kansas Speedway Saturday, July 1.  The race can be seen live on Speed Channel.  Check local times for listings.

Milwaukee Photos
By:  Jim Gunther

Jim Gunther and John Sr.	Team in victory lane
Getting showered	JB celebrating

Benson Takes Two with Win in Milwaukee
By:  Truckseries.com

After coming close to victory several times in his first 58 starts but never taking home the winner's trophy, Johnny Benson has more than made amends by picking up his second consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in Saturday night's Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200. The 1995 NASCAR Busch Series champion took the lead for the final time on lap 160 and led convincingly the rest of the way, holding off 2002 series champion Mike Bliss by 2.249 seconds to take home the $55,500 winner's purse.

Benson was forced to deal with a dominant Ron Hornaday throughout the night on his way to the victory. Hornaday, who started from the pole, led a race high 102 laps but fought a loose condition in the latter stages of the race. Eventually Benson was able to size up Hornaday's weakness and take advantage, driving off to nearly a five second lead within twenty laps to go. Hornaday was not able to hold off a fast-closing Mike Bliss, who darted into second with with seven laps to go and chopped Benson's advantage in half, but ran out of laps before he could make a run for the lead and the win. 

After going winless for so long in the Truck Series, Benson is overwhelmed with the success he and his Bill Davis Race team have found recently with the No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota.

"It's almost too much to handle," Benson said in victory lane. "Winning at MIS last week was big, no doubt about it. Winning here at Milwaukee is equally as big. This is one of the most historic race tracks in the world, and to be able to win here is a very big deal. I was fortunate enough to win here in the ASA several years ago, and to come back and win here with the Truck is incredible. It's close to home, which is nice too. I've won two here in the Midwest, now we need to get some of these wins down south and out west too."   Listen to Johnny and Rick's comments after the race on truckseries.com.  Click here

Benson Goes Back to Back
Wins Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200
By:  Toyota Motorsports

Johnny Benson recorded his second straight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series  victory when he captured the checkered flag in Friday night’s Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 at the Milwaukee Mile.  Benson guided his No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Tundra to ‘Victory Lane’ Friday night after crossing the finish line first at Michigan International Speedway last Saturday.

It was the 19th win for a Tundra since Toyota began competing in the Craftsman Truck Series at the beginning of the 2004 season.

Benson took the lead from Ron Hornaday, Jr. on lap 160 of the 200-lap event and held off all challengers en route to the win.

“Ron (Hornaday) was really tough today,” said Benson, following the race.  “But, I was watching him and he was doing everything he could to stay in front of me.  I just sat behind him and watched for a while -- just saving everything I had.  I was running on his tail real good and he got loose in turns three and four.  I stayed tucked up underneath him and he wasn’t able to get a real good hold of the track.  That’s what happened and we were able to get by him.  It wasn’t smooth sailing from then on, but I knew I would be in pretty good shape.”

While Benson registered NCTS win number one in his 48th start driving the No. 23 Tundra -- it took just one more race to rack up win number two.

“That first one was pretty hard, and everyone said that second one would come a little easier,” added Benson.  “I didn’t think it would come today.  We knew we’ve been close and we knew there would be some opportunities to win races this year, but I didn’t think it would be tonight.”

Tundra drivers following Benson to the checkered flag were Jack Sprague (fourth), David Reutimann (fifth), David Starr (eighth), Mike Skinner (11th), Bill Lester (15th), Todd Bodine (20th), Joey Miller (23rd) and Ted Musgrave (24th).

NOTES:

• This week’s race truck for The Milwaukee Mile is Chassis No. 23-60.  Chassis No. 23-60 carried Johnny Benson to a fifth-place finish at Gateway International Raceway in late April.

• Bowling for fun… Benson will join his teammate Bill Lester Thursday, June 22 at the Blue Mound Bowling center in Milwaukee.  NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers will take on the media and guests of Craftsman Tools to determine which group boasts the better bowlers.

• First Test… Benson tested Toyota’s new Camry Tuesday, marking the first time the car has been on the track.  The Camry will compete in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in 2007.

• First Win… Benson captured his first career Craftsman Truck Series victory last weekend at Michigan International Speedway.  It was the Grand Rapids, Mich., native’s 60th career NCTS start.  Benson now has accumulated 19 top-five finishes and 34 top-10 finishes.

• On air with JB… Benson will have a busy weekend in Milwaukee.  Benson will race his Toyota Tundra on Friday, then join Rick Allen Saturday as a television color commentator the NASCAR Busch Series race.

• Listen and Watch… The Toyota Tundra 200 is scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m. ET Friday, June 23.  It will broadcast live on Speed (TV), MRN (radio) and XM Radio channel 144.

Johnny Benson on racing at The Milwaukee Mile:
“We had a great run going at The Milwaukee Mile last year until our engine let go late in the race.  I am looking forward to going back and finishing what we started.  Milwaukee reminds me a lot of the track I used to race on in Michigan.  The track is fairly flat and has a lot of speed.  I have run there in my ASA car, but I’ve only raced there twice in my Tundra.  This team really has some momentum on its side after last week’s win in Michigan, and I am looking forward to building on it this weekend at The Milwaukee Mile.”

Crew chief Rick Ren on racing at The Milwaukee Mile:
“The truck we are taking to Milwaukee has only seen action at two tracks, but it has finished in the top five in both showings.  I personally have had a lot of success at Milwaukee, having won a pole there in both the Truck Series and Busch Series.  The truck must have really good brakes, it must turn well, and it must get to the gas early in order to be good in Milwaukee.

“I think the win last weekend in Michigan was huge for our young race team.  The only people on the team that have won a race before last Saturday were Johnny, Tim Sanders and me.  Last week showed the team that hard work wins races.  Hard work means attention to detail and no mental errors, and that is what this team is focused on doing every week.  Our performance has spoken for itself all year, and we just need to keep our focus each and every week to have a chance for the championship.”