Daytona Race Report
The No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra team headed to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with high hopes.  After finishing second in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship standings last season, Johnny Benson and his team were ready to make their mark early in the 2007 season.

Daytona Photos
By:  Barb Benson

       
   

The team struggled somewhat during the first practice session, but after many changes to his Toyota Tundra, Benson was able to maneuver well through the draft.  The team chose not to focus entirely on single-truck runs. 

Benson was the first driver to qualify Thursday night and posted the 10th-best qualifying speed for Friday night’s 250-mile event.    

When the green flag waved over the 36-truck field, Benson and the No. 23 team were more than ready for the season to get underway.  The second caution flag of the night waved on lap 10, and Benson joined the rest of his competitors on pit road for a fuel stop.

By lap 20, Benson had begun his charge to the front.  When everyone else pitted under caution on lap 26, Benson remained on the track.  The No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra took the lead under the caution and worked well in the draft.  Benson and his team were optimistic.

Benson drove hard and remained in the top five during the next 20 laps.  He planned to pit under green flag conditions on lap 49, but fortunately, the caution flag waved before he could pit.  Benson and his team were able to refuel the truck without losing a lap.

Benson regained the lead after the restart and held it through the halfway point of the event.  The caution flag waved again on lap 62, during which time Benson pitted for four tires and fuel.  He restarted 13th on lap 67.   

Benson quickly vaulted forward and was within the top three with 20 laps to go.  With his BDR teammate Mike Skinner behind him and Toyota teammate Jack Sprague in front of him, Benson knew he had to make his move on the last lap. 

Coming off turn four on the final lap, Benson got a hard push from behind, which in turn bumped Sprague in front of him.  Benson hurled himself to a three-wide finish at Daytona.  Benson finished second in the second closest race in Daytona’s history and finds himself already in the hunt for the NCTS championship.

The team returns to action this week at California Speedway.  After finishing sixth there in 2006, Benson hopes to do even better this year.  The race can be seen live Friday, Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. (EST) on the SPEED Channel.

Listen to Johnny's Interview
Thanks to Truckseries.com for capturing Johnny's interview after the Daytona race.  Click Here  to enter the Daytona Report page and click on Sounds for a list of interviews. 

Johnny Finishes 2nd in Daytona
In a three-wide finish reminiscent of the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway, Jack Sprague's No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota got a push from Johnny Benson's Toyota to nip Travis Kvapil at the start/finish line on the final lap to capture the Chevy Silverado HD 250.  Sprague and Benson split Kvapil right at the finish line, relegating him to a third-place finish, .034 seconds behind winner Sprague.

Location:       Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.

NOTES:

• This week’s race truck for Daytona International Speedway is Chassis No. 23-11.  The No. 23 team is taking the same truck it tested at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year.  The team was happy with the performance of this truck, and driver Johnny Benson found the truck very fast and maneuverable through the draft.
• Sponsorships…  Three different paint schemes will adorn the No. 23 Tundra throughout the 2007 season:  Toyota Certified Used Vehicles (TCUV), Exide and 360 OTC.  The truck will carry the TCUV colors this weekend at Daytona.
• Autographs anyone?  Benson will participate in an autograph session Thursday, Feb. 9 at Daytona Toyota in Daytona Beach.  The event is slated to start at 5 p.m.  Benson will also be on hand during the annual NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers’ autograph session at the Volusia Mall in Daytona Beach starting at 1:30 p.m.
• Is this thing on?  Benson will join his Bill Davis Racing teammates on “PRN Fast Talk” radio show Monday, Feb. 12 at 6:15 p.m., in Volusia Mall, which is located directly across from Daytona International Speedway.  Catch Benson again with his teammates on 95.7 WHOG’s morning radio show on February 12 at 8:15 a.m.
• Listen and watch … The Chevy Silverado HD 250 is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 16.  It will broadcast live on Speed Channel (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128).

Johnny Benson’s Racing Quotes:

Johnny Benson on racing at Daytona International Speedway

“I am looking forward to going to Daytona.  It is one of the fastest tracks on the schedule, and I feel that we will be a front runner from the start.  We finished 15th there last year, but this year I am hoping for a shot to win.

“The test in January proved to be really strong for the No. 23 team.  We were fast in both single-truck runs and in the draft.  With the strong Toyota horsepower to help us, I think our truck will contend for the lead all night.

“I am very pleased with the way things are working with my new crew chief, Trip Bruce.  We seemed to click right from the start, and I think our testing stats proved that.  I am very excited about 2007 and can’t wait to get started.” 

Crew chief Trip Bruce on racing at Daytona International Speedway: