As the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series headed to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend, No. 23 Exide Batteries Tundra team was the favorite to win the race, with a 5:2 odds to hit the jackpot in the Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350.  The team brought the same truck that was involved in the closest finish in NASCAR history earlier this year at Michigan International Speedway.  The team hoped the truck would be lucky once again as it continued its championship quest Saturday night. 

The No. 23 Exide Batteries Tundra team was happy with its truck early in the first of two practice sessions Saturday morning.  Driver Johnny Benson said he could really drive it hard into the corners and could get back to the gas early.  As the session progressed and the track collected rubber, the No. 23 truck seemed to lose some of it drivability.  The team tried a couple of different combinations, hoping to hit on something it could race under the lights that evening.  By the end of the Happy Hour final practice session, the team found a setup that was both fast and comfortable for Benson.  The team was optimistic about its chances to capture another victory. 

Benson started the event in the fifth spot, but it did not take him long to make his move toward the front of the field.  He explained Crew Chief Trip Bruce that the truck handled a little unpredictably, being both loose and tight, but he believed his Tundra would really gain ground as the race started to unfold. 

When the caution flag was displayed to the field on lap 23, the team prepared to see its blue-and-black Exide Batteries Tundra on pit road.  Knowing the truck was just showing signs of life, Bruce called for a fuel-only stop in an attempt to save the tires for the end of the race.  Benson had the lead when the race restarted on lap 28.

The current Craftsman Truck Series Championship leader led the next 36 laps with nearly a five-second lead over the second-place truck.  Benson was cruising into turn one on lap 64 when his right front tire exploded and the truck sailed into the outside retaining wall.  Benson drove his truck to the garage area, and after surveying the damage, the team determined to truck was not safe enough to resume racing.   

Despite his misfortune, Benson retained the point lead by one marker over Ron Hornaday.  Six races remain in the 2008 season.  

The No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra returns to action Saturday, Oct. 4 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.  The race can be seen live on the Speed Channel at 4 p.m. EST.

 

NOTES:

• This week’s race truck for Las Vegas Motor Speedway is Chassis No. 23-60.  On its most recent outing at Michigan International Speedway earlier this year, Chassis No. 23-60 was part of the closest finish in NASCAR history.

• Nice Battery… Exide Batteries will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra Saturday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Atlanta-based Exide Batteries has been a partner of the No. 23 team for three seasons.

• Come Fly With Me… Johnny Benson will appear at the Vegas Indoor Skydiving facility Friday, Sept. 19.  The current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points leader will take flight with members of the media and will also be available for interviews after the event.  This will be the second time Benson has visited the state-of-the-art facility.

• Las Vegas Style… In four starts at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Benson only has one finish outside the top five, and he finished second in this event in 2007.  The 45 year old NASCAR champion has an average finish of 10.75.

• Listen and watch… The Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350 scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. PST, Saturday, Sept. 20.  It will broadcast on SPEED (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128).