Johnny Benson - Bill Davis Racing Event Preview
O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 - July 1, 2006
Kansas Speedway - Kansas City, KS

Great pit stops and a never-give-up attitude helped the No. 23 Roger Smith and Sons Toyota Tundra team capture its ninth top-10 finish of the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.   

Kansas Photos
By:  Rodd Flagg

    

Johnny Benson and the No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra team entered the race at Kansas Speedway as the hottest team in the Craftsman Truck Series garage.  The team had won the previous two races and was gunning for three straight on Saturday.  Benson’s ride for the weekend was victorious in Michigan, and the team was hoping for the same result in Kansas. 

The team struggled early in the practice session.  Benson told his crew he could feel the front end dragging on the pavement, and it was pushing him up the track.  The team changed front springs, hoping to raise the front end enough to keep it off the track.  The team then began its attempt to remedy the tight-handling condition Benson had described.  After a host of chassis adjustments, the No. 23 team stood fourth on the speed chart.  The team was optimistic about its chances for a solid run Saturday afternoon. 

When the green flag was displayed to the field, Benson sat 22nd and on a mission to get to the front.  Benson had picked up eight positions in only 20 laps, but he was not happy with his truck.  He said the truck was sliding all over the place.  Crew chief Rick Ren and the No. 23 team planned a series of changes to make during the first round of pit stops. 

When the caution flag waved on 29, Benson brought his Tundra down the pit lane for service.  After the routine four tires and fuel, the crew made a number of changes to the truck.  The crew’s fast work in the pits gained Benson five positions on the track.  He restarted 11th on lap 34.  

Two laps later, Benson said the truck was way too tight, and he was not able to get his Tundra to turn in the corner.  The tight condition caused Benson to slide through the field, bottoming out at 15th by lap 50.   

After 20 laps, the problems seemed to work themselves out, and Benson started to maneuver up through the field.  He found himself back in the top 10 on lap 75.  When the caution flag waved again on lap 77, Benson pitted for another four tires, more fuel and an air pressure adjustment.  Another great stop helped Benson restart sixth. 

When the caution flag waved on 125, the team was faced with the risky decision of pitting for fresh rubber or not pitting in favor of track position.  Benson voted in favor of new tires and received them on lap 127.  This time, the crew gained its driver two positions on the track. 

With only 40 laps to go in the event, Benson was in the 17th spot.  With fresh tires beneath him, Benson hoped his truck was capable of gaining positions.  It was; Benson battled his way to a ninth-place finish.  

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads to Kentucky Speedway Saturday, July 8.  The race can be seen live on the Speed Channel at 8:15 EST.   

 

NOTES:

• This week’s race truck for Kansas Speedway is Chassis No. 23-73.  Johnny Benson drove this truck to his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in Michigan two weeks ago.

• Moving on up… The No. 23 team’s second consecutive victory last week at The Milwaukee Mile has moved the team to third in the Craftsman Truck Series point standings.  The team is only four points out of the second position and 130 markers out of the lead.  The team’s high points ranking has come on the strength of two wins, six top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes in 11 starts.

• Welcome Aboard… Bill Davis Racing is pleased to announce that Roger Smith and Sons Toyota will serve as primary sponsor of the No. 23 team this weekend.  The dealership is located three miles from Kansas Speedway.

• Autographs Anyone? Benson will sign autographs at Roger Smith and Sons Toyota Thursday, June 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Just for fun… Benson will join his team members Friday for a night of racing at Sadler’s Indoor Karting in Olathe, Kan.  This will be the second time this year that Benson has taken on his No. 23 Toyota team in go-karts.  Benson’s teammate Bill Lester will also battle his team in a kart race.

• Listen and Watch… The O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 is scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m. ET Saturday, July 1.  It will broadcast live on Speed (TV), MRN (radio) and XM Radio channel 144.

Johnny Benson on racing at Kansas Speedway:
“Kansas is a track I like.  It is smooth and fast, and you can really move around on the track.  We are going to take the truck we won Michigan with, which has been a great truck.  It is consistent and really responds to the changes we make to it.  We feel like when we unload, we are going to be OK.  Working with [crew chief] Rick Ren and the guys on this team has just been a real pleasure.

“We are going to have to work hard to get our Toyota to drive well and be comfortable in Kansas, then who knows what will happen.  I am not banking on three straight, but I was not banking on two in a row either.  We will just go there, do our jobs, and hopefully it will end up OK.”

Crew chief Rick Ren on racing at Kansas Speedway:
“To be good at Kansas, you really have to get through turns three and four.  You can give up a little in turns one and two, but you really need that strong push down the front stretch in order to have a fast truck.

“Our mindset from Daytona was to finish each week in the top five.  If we do that, the points will take care of themselves.  We have really done a great job the last couple of weeks on pit road.  My guys have not made any mistakes, and it has paid great dividends.  We just need to keep our focus, work on getting better each week and see where we are at the end of the season.”