Johnny Benson - Event Preview
O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 - August 23, 2006
Bristol Motor Speedway - Bristol, TN

Photo By:  Truck Series.com

With its Toyota Tundra carrying the Exide paint scheme, the No. 23 team was excited about its return to the “World’s Fastest Half Mile.”  Johnny Benson avoided a number of on-track incidents when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series last visited Bristol Motor Speedway in 2005 and brought his Tundra home in the fourth position.  The team was looking to improve on that finish and gain some ground on championship points leader Todd Bodine.

Benson was happy with the handling of his Tundra during Wednesday’s practice sessions.  He told his crew the truck handled a little loose going into the corners, but it was really good from the center to the end of the turns.  Crew chief Rick Ren and the Exide Tundra team made a couple of shock changes, hoping to dial the truck in for the 200-lap event.  The team knew the importance of starting up front at Bristol, so it spent the final practice session working on the qualifying setup.  At the end of the final practice session, Benson had his Exide Toyota Tundra in the ninth spot.

Benson thought his early qualifying draw would hurt his qualifying effort.  He was quickly proven wrong.  His lap of 15.502 seconds placed the Exide Tundra eighth for the start of Wednesday night’s race.

Despite his advantage of a good starting position, Benson knew patience would be key to surviving the race.  On lap 12, Benson reported that his truck was tight off the corners.  Ren and the Exide Toyota team discussed the changes it would make during the first pit stop of the evening, while Benson began closing in on the top five.

The team received the opportunity to make its discussed changes under caution on lap 28 when Benson reported to the pit lane for service.  The four tire stop also included a track bar adjustment.  Fast work by the Exide team gained Benson four spots on the track.

Benson restarted 15th on lap 33 because several trucks remained on the track during the caution.  He cautiously moved through the field, and by lap 69, he was second only to leader Mark Martin.

Benson retained the second position for nearly 100 laps before being passed by Todd Bodine.  With less than 15 laps remaining in the race, Benson said the truck had no grip and was sliding the front tires.  Benson held on to finish fourth for the second consecutive year.

The Craftsman Truck Series takes a couple of weeks off before returning to action Sept. 16 at New Hampshire International Speedway.  The race can be seen live on the Speed Channel.  Check local listing for start time.

Tundra Drivers Take Top Fives
Tundra drivers took four of the top-five finishing positions in Wednesday evening’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race at Bristol Motor Speedway.  Toyota drivers Todd Bodine (second), Ted Musgrave (third), Johnny Benson (fourth) and David Starr (fifth) followed race-winner Mark Martin to the checkered flag at the Tennessee short track.

Bodine, driver of the No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Tundra, came up short in
his efforts to catch Martin following a late race caution “We didn’t have
anything for Mark (Martin) tonight,” said Bodine, following the race.
“Mark was just playing with us tonight and anytime we even got close to him -- he was able to easily pull away.   I knew Teddy (Musgrave) was behind me, and he was taking it easy on me -- letting me work on trying to catch Mark.”

Despite not being able to pass Martin, the second-place result was still a
good way to end the evening at Bristol.  “Overall, it was a good night as
far as the championship points race,” added Bodine.  “I know we picked up some points on Johnny (Benson).  So, from that standpoint, it was a pretty good night.  We came out of Bristol second -- and that’s really what we had to do for the points.”

Bodine’s Germain Racing teammate, Ted Musgrave, also had a good evening behind the wheel of the No. 9 Team ASE Tundra.  “The guys on the crew made a great call when we came in early for tires and fuel,” said Musgrave, after the race.  “We just rode around and tried to save our tires for the end of the race.  I tried to take it easy -- and hold our position.  Then, towards the end of the race -- my truck was just a little ‘off.’  Tonight
we ran like we ran at the beginning of the year, which was a good feeling.
Todd (Bodine) and I were running up front, along with Mark (Martin) -- just
like we did at the beginning of the year.”

Before tonight’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Tundra drivers had
registered five consecutive Craftsman Truck Series wins in the state of
Tennessee.  Earlier this season, Johnny Benson recorded a win at Nashville (August 12) and Jack Sprague finished first at Memphis (July 15).  Last year, Toyota drivers swept the three Craftsman Truck Series races in Tennessee.  Tundra drivers David Reutimann (Nashville), Mike Skinner (Bristol) and Brandon Whitt (Memphis) recorded wins in the ‘Volunteer State.’

NOTES:

• This week’s race truck for Bristol Motor Speedway is Chassis No. 23-35.  Johnny Benson last drove truck No. 35 at Memphis Motorsports Park in July.

• Welcome Back… The Exide Batteries logo will again adorn the No. 23 Toyota Tundra this weekend.  Exide first partnered with the No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Tundra team at Michigan earlier this season.  That first union was quite successful, as Benson captured his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in his home state and brought Exide its first victory in more than five years.

• Championship Contender… The No. 23 team’s victory in Nashville two weeks ago solidified the team as a championship contender.  Benson sits second in the Craftsman Truck Series Championship standings, 144 points behind leader Todd Bodine.

• So Close… Benson finished second in a NASCAR Cup Series event at Bristol in 2000.  He was bested only by Rusty Wallace, the all-time win leader at Bristol.  Benson has accumulated three top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes at “Thunder Valley” throughout his career.

• Plant Visit… Benson will visit the Exide Batteries plant in Bristol, Tenn., Tuesday, Aug. 22.  He will meet the employees and tour the plant.

• Listen and Watch… The O’Reilly 200 is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday, Aug. 23.  It will broadcast live on Speed (TV), MRN (radio) and XM Radio channel 144.

Bill Davis Racing Quotes:

 

Johnny Benson on racing at Bristol Motor Speedway:

“I love racing at Bristol.  I don’t like the practice or qualifying sessions because so many things can happen out of your control that can ruin your weekend, but the racing there is unbelievable.  It is the only place we go to where you can hear the crowd over the engines.

“Bristol is such a huge event on the schedule.  The fans really enjoy it, and the drivers and teams look forward to going there.  It is very demanding race track for the competitors.  You have to be on your toes for 200 laps.  I am confident our team is going to bring a great truck, and hopefully we can bring home a Bristol trophy for Exide.  That would be really neat.”

Crew chief Rick Ren on racing at Bristol Motor Speedway:

“I really enjoy racing at Bristol.  The night race at Bristol is the ultimate race for every division.  You can have the best truck there and have a good day, or you can have a real bad day, which usually is not your fault.  There is a lot of beating and banging at Bristol, but not much room for error because of the close racing.  You have to have a great day and stay out of trouble to win, which is hard to do.

“My first win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series came at Bristol in 1996 with Rick Carrelli.  To win at Bristol is like winning at Martinsville or Daytona.  There is so much tradition at that track.  Everyone wants to get to victory lane there.”