Phoenix Post Race Report

Phoenix International Raceway is a track on which the No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra team has excelled in recent years.  In 2006, the team captured the pole position and went on to win the race.  Johnny Benson led the team to a top-10 finish at PIR in 2007.  Benson and the No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra team were looking for great things Friday night at the one-mile track near Phoenix. 

The team was happy with the handling of its Toyota Tundra during both practice sessions Thursday.  The crew tried to get the truck to rotate through the center of both corners after Benson explained that he could really get into the corner well, but he just needed a bit more in the center to help him get back to the gas early.  After a number of small changes to the front end of the truck, the team finished practice with the belief that it would have one of the trucks to beat Friday night. 

Benson started the 150-lap event from the 14th spot.  The team had been the first to qualify, so Benson’s mid-pack starting position meant he had to be a little more conservative than he would have liked.  On the first lap, the trucks of Ron Hornaday and Kyle Bush tangled coming out of turn four.  Benson shot to the bottom of the track in an attempt to avoid the melee, but the right side of his truck was damaged anyway.  After several pit stops to repair the damage, the team determined that the damage was minimal and Benson could still battle for the race win. 

On lap 18, Benson told his crew the truck’s handling was loose into the corners and tight in the middle.  The team believed the damage contributed to the handling issues and planned to make adjustments during the next pit stop, which came under caution on lap 64.  The crew made air pressure and chassis adjustments during the pit stop.  Benson restarted 18th on lap 68.  

After the restart, Benson started to make his way up through the field.  On lap 86, Benson pulled underneath the No. 7 machine of T.J. Bell.  The two trucks tangled, sending both vehicles into the outside retaining wall.  Benson limped his truck back to the pit lane, and the team decided the damage was too extensive to fix on pit road.  Benson pulled his truck behind the wall. 

The team worked on the front end of the truck before sending its driver back onto the track.  Benson took the checkered flag in the 26th spot, 52 laps behind race winner Kevin Harvick. 

The No.23 Exide Batteries Toyota Tundra team returns to action Friday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  Benson still holds the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship points lead by three points over Ron Hornaday.  Friday’s race can be seen live on the Speed Channel at 8 p.m. EST. 

Phoenix Preview

• This Week’s Race Truck for Phoenix International Raceway is Chassis No. 23-121.  Chassis No. 23-121 took the No. 23 team to victory lane at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway three weeks ago.  It has been the team’s short track workhorse during the 2008 campaign.

• Certified Leader… Toyota Certified Used Vehicles will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 23 Toyota Tundra team at Phoenix International Raceway.  The used car leader is the first in the automotive industry to surpass two million certified used vehicles sold.

• Spin and Win… Benson captured the pole at Phoenix in 2006, then spun going into turn three on the first lap of the race.  Benson went on to win the event.  It was the No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra’s fifth win of the 2006 season.  Benson and the No. 23 team have already captured five victories this year.

• Championship Battle… The No. 23 Bill Davis Racing team is still in a tight battle for the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship.  Benson leads the No. 33 team of Ron Hornaday by only six points with two events remaining in the season.

• Listen and Watch… The Lucas Oil 150 is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. MST Friday, Nov. 7.  It will broadcast on SPEED (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128).