10 Questions with Johnny
By Mark Aumann - NASCAR.COM
1. What's the best advice you've
received and who was it from?
My dad: "Keep your nose clean, don't hit anything and
don't knock the nose off it." That's one of those deals that
actually applies a lot to today just because of the aero
aspect. But when I was kid, racing on the dirt tracks and
asphalt track, that part didn't seem to matter, but it was
more about racing clean, don't hit people, don't knock them
out of the way, don't spin people out, things of that
nature, so that came from my dad.
2. What's at the top on your "things to accomplish" list?
Probably be a better parent. I guess everybody could
probably try to say that. At this point and time in my life,
or down the road anyways, is spend more time out.
3. What's the one thing that you do that drives your
wife crazy?
I can't think of one at the moment. I probably can't
narrow it to one.
4. Which athlete outside of racing do you most admire?
I don't watch much sports, but probably in motorcycles,
I like Ricky Carmichael and skateboarder Tony Hawk. Probably
those two guys.
5. What's your favorite TV show?
I've got two. I like House and Two and a Half
Men.
6. What was your first job?
Outside of racing, it would have been working in a
machine shop in Michigan when I was still in high school. My
first job was cleaning the shop when I was 7 years old but
outside of my dad's business, it was [at a] machine shop.
7. If you could take someone to your
hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., what restaurant would you
go to and what would you order?
When I worked downtown, we'd always go to a little place
called Choo Choo's. ... and an olive burger and a peanut
butter malt is the way to go.
8. Who has had the most impact on your
life?
My wife, Debbie, and the kids, for sure. My mom and dad
had a big influence on me.
9. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate chip cookie dough.
10. What's your favorite vacation spot?
I haven't found it yet.
NASCAR AWARD CEREMONIES
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES:
Monday, November 19, 2007 - Regarding innovation, the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series Awards Banquet is set for Monday,
Nov. 19 at a new site where excitement is inherent: The
Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla.
NASCAR BUSCH SERIES:
Friday, December 7, 2007 - The NASCAR Busch Series Awards
Banquet will take place on Friday, Dec. 7, at the Portofino
Bay Hotel in Orlando, Fla. Portofino Bay is located near the
new NASCAR Sports Grille at City Walk, within the Universal
Orlando complex.
NEXTEL CUP SERIES:
Friday, November 30, 2007 - For the 27th consecutive year,
the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion will be feted
amid the bright lights of New York City, with the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony set for the world-famous
Waldorf=Astoria hotel on the evening of Friday, Nov. 30.
"Honoring our NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion
at the Waldorf has created many memories through the years,"
said NASCAR Chairman/CEO Brian France.
It's a perfect fit - the nation's No. 2
sport recognizing its champion in the nation's No. 1 market.
It's also a perfect footnote to what promises to be another
great season."
Complementing the Waldorf show will be
the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon on Thursday,
Nov. 29 at Cipriani, in Manhattan. This will be the second
year of a new format for this long-standing event, which is
highlighted by several prominent presentations, including
NASCAR's year-end contingency awards. All three national series end their
seasons at Homestead-Miami Speedway on the weekend of Nov.
16-18.
Mansfield Race on FOX
Attention JB Fans! The Craftsman Truck race this week
is on FOX. For those of you who do not have SPEED -
this is your chance to see the Trucks in action.
Charlotte
Picks for Nextel Cup Race
As a
MSNBC contributor, Johnny predicts that Jimmie Johnson will
win in his "house".
To view the complete article -
Click Here.
Hauler Parade in Mansfield
As has been the case every year since the NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series has visited Mansfield Motorsports Park for the
Ohio 250, the transporters that haul all of the race teams'
equipment and race trucks will parade through downtown
Mansfield leading up to the Downtown Motorsports Street
Festival on Thursday May 24.
This year, the big rigs will stage at the
Sears store at the Richland Mall in Ontario prior to kicking
off their move to downtown. From there, they will make their
way up Lexington-Springmill Road before making the turn onto
Park Avenue West. The transporters will come to a stop at
the intersection of Park Avenue and Main Street, where they
will be on display from 4 P.M. until 8 P.M.
As she has done for each of the NASCAR
parades, Mansfield Mayor Lydia Reid will ride shotgun with
NASCAR's Joey Hollar in the lead truck. Sears general
manager Phil Brille will ride in the Sears Craftsman display
unit, and other local dignitaries will participate as well.
A limited number of transporters, parked
on Park Avenue East between Diamond and Main, will be open
for public tours starting shortly after 4 P.M. Those
included in the tours include rigs for defending series
champion Todd Bodine, defending race winner Ron Hornaday,
Ken Schrader, and Rick Crawford.
Starting at 5 P.M. and running through 7
P.M., several drivers will appear for autographs and
pictures with fans. Drivers will appear in two one-hour
shifts. The first group, from 5 P.M. until 6 P.M., includes
Willie Allen, defending series champion Todd Bodine, Kevin
Hamlin, and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series veteran Ken Schrader.
The 6 P.M. shift will include Matt Crafton, Rick Crawford,
Brendan Gaughan, and David Starr. Kelly Bires and Joey
Clanton will also participate, but times for those drivers
are yet to be determined. The autograph session will take
place at the Gazebo located in the town square at Main and
Park Avenue.
At 8 P.M. the transporters will start the
final stage of their parade back to Mansfield Motorsports
Park. They will make the turn onto Diamond and then follow
State Route 13 to Longview, then over to State Route 545 for
the final leg to the speedway entrance.
Mansfield Fan Walk
One of the most popular fan-oriented aspects of the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series event weekend will continue in 2007
as race fans will again be invited to walk the Mansfield
Motorsports Park racing surface on race morning. The MMP Fan
Walk will allow race fans in attendance to get down on the
track just hours before the start of the Ohio 250, giving
them a chance to meet drivers and see the teams' preparation
up close.
"Ever since this event was added to the
schedule, we have looked at ways we can enhance this
experience for our race fans," said MMP owner Michael
Dzurilla. "This event is unique for everyone involved. We
love the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and everyone involved
loves the fact that the Trucks are the headline act here in
Mansfield. We also love the way the drivers and the teams
open themselves up to our fans and the community and this is
really an extension of that."
One of the drivers that has been a big
draw during previous MMP Fan Walks is Las Vegas native
Brendan Gaughan. The former walk-on Georgetown Hoya
basketball player is a fan favorite everywhere the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series competes, and that is no different in
Mansfield.
"There's not another NASCAR race in Ohio,
so to me that has always been a neat thing about the trucks
going to Mansfield," said Gaughan, driver of the No. 77
South Point Resort Chevrolet in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series. "We are the only game in town when it comes to
NASCAR racing. People come from all over to that race, and
man, do they love NASCAR and the drivers and the teams. They
are so in to the whole weekend. They are just really a lot
of fun. It is great to spend time with the fans at
Mansfield."
Mansfield Motorsports Park gates will
open at 9 A.M. on Saturday May 26, with the track opening
for the MMP Fan Walk at 9 A.M. Fans will be able to walk the
track for 90 minutes before the track is cleared for the
start of the public driver's meeting, held on the turns
three and four access road just in front of the general
admission seating area.
Tickets are still available for the Ohio
250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race by logging on to the
track website at
www.mansfieldmotorsportsonline.com.
Congratulations - Nate Victory!
The JBFC would like to congratulate Nate Victory on his
graduation from high school. As part of his senior
picture package, Nate dressed in his JB Late Model T-shirt
and posed at Berlin Raceway. Nate has supported Johnny
100%. Proud parents are Jerry and Tammi Victory.
Nate's open house is Saturday, May 19th.
Bill Davis Racing Statement
Bill Davis Racing has released the following statement in
regards to the penalties for their No. 23 NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series team driven by Johnny Benson.
“We agree with the penalties NASCAR has issued to the 23
team and we will deal with them accordingly,” said Bill
Davis. “NASCAR has rules and policies in place to keep the
drivers and crew members safe and we appreciate their
vigilance in this instance.”
In Trip Bruce’s
absence, truck chief Billy Hagerthey will assume the role of
crew chief.
Benson, Crew Chief Receive Penalties
for Test Violations
By: Nascar.com
NASCAR announced Tuesday that Bill Davis
Racing's No. 23 Toyota team in the Craftsman Truck Series
has been penalized for rule violations committed last week
during a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Three penalties have been assessed to the
team, including driver Johnny Benson and crew chief Trip
Bruce, for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to
stock car racing) and 12-4-J (permitting a non-NASCAR
licensed driver to drive the No. 23 truck) of the 2007
NASCAR rule book.
Bruce was fined $10,000 and suspended
until May 30, 2007, which includes the next two Craftsman
Truck Series championship events, Friday night's event at
Lowe's Motor Speedway and next weekend's race at Mansfield
Motorsports Park.
Benson was penalized the loss of 50
championship driver points and truck owner Gail Davis was
penalized the loss of 50 championship owner points.
Benson was seventh in the standings before the penalty and
drops back into a tie for eighth, with Travis Kvapil. Gail
Davis is in an identical position in the owner standings.
The violation occurred during a test
session on May 10, when Mike Lichty was allowed to drive
Benson's truck and crashed it, on the first day of a two-day
test. The team was ejected from the test at that time.
"We agree with the penalties NASCAR has
issued to the 23 team and we will deal with them
accordingly," Bill Davis said. "NASCAR has rules and
policies in place to keep the drivers and crew members safe
and we appreciate their vigilance in this instance."
The team said in Bruce's absence, truck chief Billy
Hagerthey will serve as crew chief. A team
spokesperson said Davis planned no in-house sanctions at
this time.
Meet Frank Starr
Frank & Johnny
Frank Starr handles the
scoring duties for the #23 Toyota Tundra. Frank
reside in Greensboro, North Carolina
with his wife, Linda. They have four daughters -
Alexandra, Brittany, Lauren, Taylor.
Why do you
work on a NASCAR team?
I work in NASCAR because I enjoy the challenge and the
excitement.
What has
been your most rewarding moment in your racing career?
The most rewarding experience was winning the Daytona 500 in
2002 with Ward Burton. I had been at BDR for two weeks and
they treated me like I actually did something to help the
effort!
What has
been the most challenging moment in your racing career? The
most challenging part of the job is the fact that nothing I
do makes the cars/trucks go any faster. I don’t come up with
setups or engineering discoveries (or fuel additives) that
help us win. I wish I could contribute more.
What would
you like the fans to know about you?
The fans can know that God and my family come way before any
race or job.
What would
you like to say to the JB fans?
The JB fans need to know, if they don’t already, that Johnny
is the most humble and sincere driver in the business. I
have had the opportunity to work with many of them and none
compare when it comes to character qualities.
Thank you,
Frank for sharing with the fans!!
In Memory
The JBFC would like to send condolences to the families of
Michael Fires and Scott Seaton who passed away this week.
Scott lost his life while racing at Auto City last weekend
and was previously a competitor at Berlin Raceway.
Michael Fires lived in Marne and enjoyed the countless hours
at Berlin Raceway.
Complete Obits.
Happy Mother's Day!
Johnny and Judy Benson
Happy Mother's Day
The JBFC would like to wish all of the "Mothers" a Happy
Day! We hope you do not have to cook and get waited
on. Although, now with the rain out of Darlington - it
may be hard to get away from the television. Enjoy the
day!
Darlington
Picks for Nextel Cup Race
As a
MSNBC contributor, Johnny predicts Jeff Gordon will be the
driver to hit victory lane as he as done 6 times before.
To view the complete article -
Click Here.
Charlotte Testing
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship points leader
Mike Skinner established himself as the man to beat when
the tailgate brigade returns to Lowe's Motor Speedway
Friday night, May 18, for the Quaker Steak & Lube 200
presented by Circle K. Driving the No. 5 Toyota owned
by Bill Davis, Skinner topped the speed chart for the
second consecutive day as Truck Series teams wrapped up
testing with a 10-hour session Friday at the 1.5-mile
superspeedway.
"I honestly don't think that we are
pole material," Skinner said. "We have not made one
qualifying run; we've been totally in race runs. We're
trying to points race a little bit and I don't think our
truck is a threat for the pole. But I think it's
definitely a top-five truck for the race." Just
like the day before, Skinner recorded the fastest lap
during the morning session. His speed of 179.551 mph on
Friday was just slightly quicker than the 179.158 mph
lap that set the standard on Thursday.
Travis Kvapil was second fastest at
179.033 mph in the No. 6 Ford and Tyler Walker was third
fastest at 178.915 mph in the No. 36 Toyota.
Toyotas filled out the top five with Jack Sprague fourth
fastest at 178.577 mph and defending series champion
Todd Bodine fifth at 178.118 mph.
Complete Story
Richmond Race Reporter
Fans at the races:
Cliff Calton on the right with
his wife Debbie and friend
Johnny Finishes 31st at Richmond
The Nextel Cup teams returned to Richmond on Sunday under
sunny skies. Long green runs at the beginning of the
race put ill handling race cars at a disadvantage.
Johnny ran consistent laps and steadily improved throughout
the race. Good job to Johnny, Tony Furr and the entire
Wyler Racing team on their first endeavor.
Johnny Starts 31st at Richmond - YEAH!
Practice presented a challenge for Johnny, Tony Furr and the
#46 Wyler Racing. The Toyota Camry was extremely
tight. The team drew a #1 qualifying draw.
Johnny laid down a lap that was good enough to make it in on
speed and in the 31st starting position.
Congratulations!!!
Richmond
Picks for Nextel Cup Race
As a
MSNBC contributor, Johnny predicts it will be a three way
battle between Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick
at Richmond International Speedway. Johnny's choice
for the dark horse of the race - himself!
To view the complete article -
Click Here.
Toyota "Frustrated" Through First Quarter of
Cup Season
By: Nascar.com
If you think Toyota's Nextel Cup Series teams are frustrated
by their performance in the first quarter of the season,
you'd be correct. But it's nothing compared to how the
manufacturer feels. "It's frustrating that people have
difficulty learning from history -- but I'm not the first
guy to say that," said Lee White, senior vice president of
Toyota Racing Development (TRD). "You can only go by
results, in which case [the first quarter grade] is not very
good."
White's assessment is based on the past
three seasons for the Toyota Tundra in the Craftsman Truck
Series. Toyota entered the Truck Series in 2004 and, since
gaining its first victory in July 2004, has scored 29 wins
in less than four seasons and last year won the drivers' and
manufacturers' championships. To do that, Toyota has
exercised a "one manufacturer / one team" approach with all
its organizations, to good effect. But last fall at
the Homestead-Miami Speedway finale, White expressed concern
over Toyota's Nextel Cup teams' ability to exercise the same
level of cooperation.
An exclamation point to the current
feeling in the Toyota camp, which certainly doesn't reflect
the aura of one of the car builder's former ad campaigns,
came when Wyler Racing, a leading Craftsman Truck Series
program that won the Daytona season opener with Jack
Sprague, built a Car of Tomorrow, tested it extensively and
came to its first Cup show and succeeded Friday.
Former Cup winner Johnny Benson,
whose last Cup start came in a Bill Davis Racing Dodge in
October 2005, put the Wylers' car into the field in 31st.
"They're one of our truck teams that work very well with us,
within our system," White said. "And we're still trying to
develop that system within our Cup teams. So maybe in that
regard there's a message here: This is how we work, you
know?"
For Toyota in Nextel Cup, the systems the
teams have in place, independent of the manufacturer, are
hardly working. Nine races into 2007, White's fears
about a lack of inter-team cooperation are fully realized;
though he did admit "it took us a year and a half to get the
truck teams to do it, at that level. It may take us two
years to get that level of cooperation at the Cup level."
Toyota won four Truck races in 2004 and
has won four of five this season. Over the last two seasons
Toyota has won 53 percent of the Truck races. "So far it
hasn't worked in Cup -- it doesn't," White said. "And the
reason for that is the elevated level of investment, there's
much more money at stake, there's bigger exposure, bigger
egos and the fact that every team is competing with each
other for that last spot."
Complete Article
Charlotte Testing Schedule
Testing sessions for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman
Truck Series teams have been scheduled at Lowe's Motor
Speedway in preparation for the track's calendar of May
races, including the May 19 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge
and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600. Each division will participate
in a two-day testing session with a third day reserved in
case of rain.
When: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
May 10-11; May 12 Rain Date
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - On-Track Testing
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - On-Track Testing
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Dinner Break
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - On-Track Testing
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
May 7-8; May 9 Rain Date
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - On-Track Testing
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Dinner Break
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - On-Track Testing
NASCAR Busch Series
May 14-15; May 16 Rain Date
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - On-Track Testing
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Dinner Break
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - On-Track Testing
