Johnny Benson - Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Racing

Post Race Report

Race:                          Chevy Silverado 250 (Race 1 of 25)

Track:                         Daytona International Speedway      

Date:                           Friday, Feb. 15, 2008

Started:                      35th

Finish:                        Third

Laps Completed:       100

Total Laps:                100

NCTS Points:            Second

After an incredible three-wide finish at last year’s season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Johnny Benson and his No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra team were hoping to get the job done and cross the finish line first in this year’s Chevy Silverado 250.

After rain delayed the first practice session Wednesday afternoon, the skies finally cleared.  Benson and the rest of the field hit the track running strong.  After encountering a few issues along the way, Benson and his TCUV crew worked on their Tundra in order to make it faster on the 2.5-mile speedway.

During the second and final practice session Thursday morning, Benson’s right front tire exploded after 25 laps and ripped off the right front fender of the truck.  Benson’s TCUV crew went straight to work in an attempt to get its Tundra race ready.  With so much work to be done, Benson and his crew were forced to skip the qualifying session and start from the back of the field on owner’s points.

As the 100-lap race kicked off under the lights Friday night, Benson immediately showed how great his No. 23 TCUV Tundra really was on the track.  Even with the handling of his truck pushing bad and forcing him to check up, Benson was already in the 19th position by lap 10.

After the caution flag waved on lap 11, Benson dove down pit road with for four tires, fuel and three rounds up on the trackbar.  Benson restarted 21st on the lap 14 restart, but he began picking off positions one by one when the race resumed.

Two more caution flags waved during the next few laps, and Benson narrowly avoided both wrecks.  He again visited pit road under caution for four tires and fuel.  When the race restarted for the third time on lap 33, Benson was in the fourth position.  He maintained his throughout the next 20 laps.

With yet another caution flag waving on lap 54, Benson once again came to pit road for four tires and fuel.  He restarted eighth on lap 57 and knew it was time to get back to the front of the field.

Benson moved up a few positions before having to pit again during the final 15 laps of the season opener.  He took right side tires and fuel only during the green flag stop, then returned to the track to show his truck’s strength. 

The final caution flag of the night waved on lap 86 after the front runners made serious contact.  Benson avoided yet another wreck and inherited the second position with nine laps remaining in the race.  As the race ended, Benson mustered everything he had to get to the start/finish line first.  After fighting for the win, Benson crossed the start/finish line in the third position.

With Benson tied for the second position in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship standings, he will be fighting for the lead going into next week’s race at California Speedway.  The race will be televised live Saturday, Feb. 23 on SPEED Channel.

Johnny Benson

Bill Davis Racing Event Preview

Race/Date:    Chevy Silverado HD 250 – Feb. 15, 2008

Location:       Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.

NOTES:

• This week’s race truck for Daytona International Speedway is Chassis No. 23-11.  This is the same truck Benson drove during a test session at Daytona earlier this year.  It also carried him to a second-place finish last year at Daytona.
• Sponsorships…  The No. 23 Tundra will carry different paint schemes throughout the 2008 season, featuring the logos for Toyota Certified Used Vehicles (TCUV) and Exide.  The truck will carry the red-and-black colors of TCUV this weekend at Daytona.
• Wrap Up… Benson wrapped up another great year in 2007 by finishing third in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship standings.  He is ready to once again get the ball rolling in hopes of bringing Bill Davis Racing its first NASCAR Championship.
• Close Finish… Benson made things extremely interesting on the last lap of last year’s race at Daytona.  Benson got a great run off turn four and ended up second in a three-wide photo finish at the 2.5-mile speedway.
• Tested and Approved… Benson and his BDR teammates tested at Daytona International Speedway last month and ran quite well.  Because of the test, Benson is looking forward to racing at Daytona this weekend.
• Is this thing on?  Benson will join his Bill Davis Racing teammates on the “PRN Fast Talk” radio show Monday, Feb. 11, at 6:15 p.m., in Volusia Mall, located directly across from Daytona International Speedway.
• Listen and watch … The Chevy Silverado HD 250 is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 15.  It will broadcast live on Speed Channel (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128).

Johnny Benson’s Racing Quotes:

“I am very excited about getting the season started.  We are pumped about going down to Daytona because we ran well there last year.  Second was a great run for us last year, and we would like to match or beat that finish again this year.  Trip [Bruce, crew chief] is with us again this year, which should make things very interesting, considering how great our performance was last year when we only had a few weeks under our belts.  This season we have an entire year under our belts, so we should do quite well.

“We have been so close to the championship the last few years by finishing third last year and second the year before.  This year, we have our sites set on the Championship, and hopefully, we can bring it home for Bill Davis Racing in 2008.”