Johnny Benson - Toyota Certified Used Vehicles
Racing
Post Race Report
Race: Kroger 250 (Race
4 of 25)
Track: Martinsville
Speedway
Date: Saturday, March
29, 2008
Started: 22nd
Finish:
25th
Laps Completed: 253
Total Laps: 253
NCTS Points: Ninth
Johnny Benson and his No. 23 team headed into
Martinsville’s short track hoping to redeem themselves
from the previous race. Standing fifth in the points,
Benson and his No. 23 TCUV team were looking to move
up.
By: Phil Cavali
Running at the top of the charts during the first
practice, Benson looked good going into happy hour
that afternoon. After making some changes to his
Tundra during the session, Benson and crew were ready
for their qualifying attempt.
With the rain setting in early Saturday morning, the
first few trucks on the track would be at a huge
disadvantage during qualifying. With Benson drawing
the fourth spot in the qualifying order he mustered
all he could out of his lap. Running a 20.220 second
lap, Benson would qualify himself in the 22nd
position.
As the green flag fell, Benson remained cool and
collective as he began working his way through the
field. With his truck becoming freer by the lap,
Benson would dive down pit road as the first caution
flag of the day would fall. Taking four tires, fuel
and a round of wedge, Benson would get back on the
half-mile track with a much better truck.
Once again having to pick off positions one by one,
Benson was making his way to the front slowly but
surely. However, soon his truck would become free
again and lack side bite. With the fourth caution of
the day flying on lap 79, Benson would come back to
pit road with the rest of the field, this time for
fuel and a trackbar adjustment only.
Holding his own on the racetrack for the remainder of
the race while numerous caution flags would wave,
Benson remained calm and plowed his way to the front.
With 10 laps to go, Benson would find himself in the
second position fighting for the lead.
As the white flag waved Benson looked as if he would
bring home his best ever finish at Martinsville.
However with an aggressive Kyle Busch behind him,
Benson would get spun out in the last turn and finish
in the 25th position.
Benson and the rest of the Craftsman Truck Series will
head to Kansas Speedway in three weeks. The race will
be televised live Saturday, April 26 on the Speed
Channel.
“We ran great here at the test a few weeks ago with our
new truck, and I am very excited about racing it. The
last few times we have raced at Martinsville we have ran
quite well, and hopefully we can capitalize on that
again this weekend. We have had a pretty good season up
to this point; except for the Atlanta race. So our goal
this weekend is to get a good finish and get those
points back we lost at Atlanta.”
