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.