Bill Davis Racing Event Preview

Race/Date:    Toyota Tundra 200 – August 11, 2007

Location:       Nashville Superspeedway – Nashville, T.N.

Johnny Benson and the No. 23 TCUV Tundra team hoped to defend its 2006 victory at the 1.33 mile Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.  Benson has also won every Toyota-sponsored race in the past two years, and his truck appeared to be a strong contender for this Toyota-sponsored event. 

The handling of Benson’s truck was somewhat tight at the beginning Friday’s first practice session, and the crew worked diligently to get the TCUV Tundra up to par.  The team ran strong during both practice sessions, and Benson looked forward to qualifying Saturday morning.

Benson was the third driver to make his qualifying run.  He knew it would be tough to qualify well with such an early draw, but he posted a great lap of 30.377 seconds, which earned him the 10th position on the starting grid.   

After the green flag waved Saturday night, Benson immediately reported to his crew that his No. 23 TCUV Tundra was snug from the center off the turns.  However, he was still able to pick off positions one by one.  Benson dove down pit road under caution on lap 43 and received four tires, fuel, air pressure and trackbar adjustments.  He restarted seventh on lap 47 and drove into the third position just four laps later.  Benson remained in the top three for the next 50 laps.

Just when it seemed Benson would contend for the victory, ill fortune set in.  The right front tire of Benson’s TCUV Tundra blew out on lap 109, sending the No. 23 truck careening into the wall and out of the race.  Benson was credited with a 30th-place finish.

Benson will join the rest of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the tough to tame Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in two weeks.  The race will be televised live on SPEED Wednesday, Aug. 22.

NOTES:

• This week’s race truck for Nashville Superspeedway is Chassis No. 23-37.  This is the same truck that Benson finished fourth with at Dover’s Monster Mile earlier this year.
• Last Year’s Winner… Benson was able to capture the win at Nashville last year due to a very heated race involving the two front runners on the green-white checkered restart.  Benson is looking to win yet again this weekend at the Superspeedway.
• Finishes Where?  Not only did Benson pull off the win at Nashville last year, but Benson has an average finishing position at Nashville’s Superspeedway of 5.0, which makes him a serious threat to win again.
• Toyota Domination… Benson has won every race that Toyota has sponsored over the last two years.  Toyota sponsors two races per year, Milwaukee and Nashville.  Benson won both Milwaukee and Nashville last year, as well as winning again at this year’s Milwaukee race, so watch out for Benson to pull it off again in his Toyota Tundra this weekend.
• Moving On Up… Benson is gaining ground fast.  He moved up yet another spot in the points after finishing second at ORP last time out.  He now stands in the fifth position in the NCTS Championship point standings.
• Nice Start… Benson will make his 90^th NCTS start this weekend in Nashville.  His first race was at Phoenix International Raceway in 1995 where he took home a tenth place finish.
• Certified Tundra… The Toyota Certified Used Vehicles logos will again adorn the hood of the No. 23 Toyota Tundra this weekend at the Toyota Tundra 200.
• New Addition… Mark Chambers, BDR’s truck team manager and his wife, Kim gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Lydia Rae on Friday, August 3^rd.  She weighed in at 8 pounds, 5 ounces.
• Listen and watch… Toyota Tundra 200 is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday, August 11.  It will broadcast on the Speed Channel (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128).

Johnny Benson on racing at Nashville Superspeedway:

“Nashville is great.  Even though the track is tough to pass on, it is a neat place to race.  Plus they give out the coolest trophies.  I always wanted one of those guitars and I finally got one last year.  Our team has been on a roll here lately and I hope we can keep that momentum going this weekend.  I would love to bring home another win and another guitar.”