Race: Quaker Steak and
Lube 200 presented by Circle K (Race 6 of 25)
Track: Lowe’s Motor
Speedway
Date: Friday, May 18,
2007
Started: 20th
Finished: 27th
Laps Completed: 123
Total Laps: 136
NCTS Points: 10th
After some dramatic off-weekends, Johnny Benson and his
No. 23 Exide Batteries team were looking forward to
returning to racing action under the lights at Lowe’s
Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Friday night.
Benson began his weekend in unfamiliar territory with
Interim Crew Chief Billy Hagerthey calling the shots.
The truck’s handling was loose in Friday’s practice
session, and Hagerthey quickly ordered changes to the
Tundra. Benson was pleased with the handling of his
truck, despite the fact it was only the 22nd-fastest
machine.
Benson’s early qualifying draw meant he would qualify
under the hot sun. His time of 30.752 seconds was good
enough to place him 20th on the starting grid.
With a huge turnout of family and friends witnessing the
action, Benson headed to the front immediately after the
green flag waved to start Friday night’s race. He
picked off positions one by one, but he soon felt
something strange in the handling of the Exide Toyota.
He thought either his tires were blistered or his brakes
were going away, and he was eager to have the problem
checked by his crew during a caution period on lap 38.
The pit stop included four tires, fuel and some minor
adjustments. Benson restarted 15th, and his truck
performed much better upon the restart. He again moved
toward the front, and by lap 70, he was in the top 10.
However, the truck’s handling had tightened.
The caution flag again waved on lap 89, and Benson came
to pit road. In a gamble, the team performed a
fuel-only stop, with a few minor adjustments. Benson
restarted third on lap 93.
Maintaining his position well, Benson soon chased down
the leader. His charge was abruptly halted on lap 124,
when a blown right-front tire sent Benson’s truck hard
into the wall. The damage was too much for the team to
finish the race, so Benson and his Exide team wound up
13 laps down and in the 27th position.
Benson and the rest of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
teams will race Saturday, May 26 at Mansfield (Ohio)
Motorsports Park. The race will be televised live on
FOX.
