Johnny Benson – Vemma Toyota Tundra  
Post Race Report

The No. 23 Vemma Toyota Tundra team was in Indianapolis this weekend with something to prove.  Johnny Benson and the No. 23 team finished second last year and were looking to improve one position after Friday night’s 200-lap event. 

Benson and the No. 23 team were happy with how their Toyota Tundra was handling in the two practice sessions on Friday afternoon.  Benson said the truck needed to have more forward bite, but it would really accelerate off the corners.  Crew chief Trip Bruce knew the track characteristics would change once the sun went down and the track cooled, so the team made a couple of adjustments to the No. 23 Toyota in preparation for temperature drop. 

Benson took the green flag Friday night in the seventh spot, but he did not stay there long.  The NASCAR veteran passed two trucks on the inside and earned the fifth spot in just the first lap.  He made quick work of the competition, passing them both on the inside and outside. 

On lap 19, Benson reported to his crew that the handling of the truck was loose entering the corners, but it was tight off the turns.  Bruce and the No. 23 team discussed what changes would be made during the only pit stop of the night.  The team knew it only had one chance to get it right at the Indiana short track. 

Benson was consistently running the fastest times on the track, but he strategically set up his passes due to ORP’s tight corners.  Benson had made it into the runner-up position by lap 70 and was running down race leader Ron Hornaday when the caution flag was displayed to the field shortly thereafter.  Benson rolled down the pit lane during the caution period on lap 85.  The team gave the truck four tires and fuel and made a trackbar adjustment in hopes of correcting the loose condition Benson continued to feel.  The crew’s lightning-fast stop gained Benson the race lead for the restart.  

Benson and Hornaday had a battle for the ages during the next 50 laps.  Benson dove to the inside of the No. 33 truck, but Hornaday had a better run off the corner and regained the lead.  Benson searched the track for a new line and found one at the very bottom of the track, which really helped him get off the corners.  The new line was the extra push he needed to get past Hornaday for good.  Benson passed the veteran driver on lap 161 and never looked back.  JB survived a couple of late race cautions to bring the No. 23 Vemma Toyota Tundra team its third victory of the season. 

With their third win in four races, the No. 23 team padded its points lead in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship standings.  Benson now leads Hornaday by 15 points. 

The No. 23 Toyota Tundra team has a week off before returning to action in the Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway Saturday, Aug. 9.  The race can be viewed live on SPEED Channel.

ORP Photos
By:  Phil Cavali

         

• Race/Date: Power Stroke Diesel 200, presented by AAA Hoosier Insurance- July 25, 2008

• Location:    O’Reilly Raceway Park–Indianapolis

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  NOTES:

• ·         This week’s race truck for O’Reilly Raceway Park is Chassis No. 23-104.  Chassis No. 23-104 has seen action this season at The Milwaukee Mile, where Johnny Benson won both the pole and the race.

• ·         See Me in Huntington Beach…  Benson spent Tuesday and Wednesday meeting Toyota dealers in Huntington Beach, Calif., at the Toyota Certified National Sales meeting.  This is the third consecutive year Benson has attended the meeting.  Toyota Certified Used Vehicles is a pioneer in used car sales.  The company is the first in the industry to surpass two million certified cars sold.

• ·         Runner-Up Finish…  Benson battled eventual winner Ron Hornaday down to the wire last year and brought his Toyota Tundra home in the second spot at ORP.  Benson has two top-five finishes at the Indiana short track.

• ·         Welcome Aboard…  The Vemma logos will again adorn the sides of the No. 23 Toyota Tundra this weekend.  Vemma is a clinically-studied, great tasting liquid antioxidant supplement.  Two ounces a day gives your body the nutrients it needs, including a full spectrum of balanced vitamins, 65 plant-sourced minerals, and it features the super-antioxidant mangosteen fruit, green tea and aloe vera.  Available in 45 countries worldwide, Vemma is ultra-premium nutrition convenient for your life.  To learn more about Vemma, visit www.vemmatrucker.com.

• ·         Mr. Consistency…  Benson has five starts at O’Reilly Raceway Park and has only failed to finish five laps.  Benson has competed 946 of 951 possible laps at ORP.

• ·         Listen and Watch … The Power Stroke Diesel 200, presented by AAA Hoosier Insurance is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET Friday, July 25.  It will broadcast on SPEED (TV), MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128).  
   

  Johnny Benson on racing at O’Reilly Raceway Park

  “ORP is a neat place to race.  Ten years ago, you could race right up by the wall or get underneath someone and do some side-by-side racing.  Now, the groove has moved down so much that it has become harder and harder to pass there.  It is important to be able to run the bottom and get hooked up off the corner to make a pass.  All in all, it is a great place to race and is fun. 

   “I have confidence in Trip [Bruce, crew chief], [truck chief] Billy Hagerthey and everyone who works on the trucks.  It is very seldom that we have to fix little things or make adjustments at the racetrack.  They have been on top of it and well prepared.  When you unload at the track, your main goal is to make sure you race well and not have to make a number of changes.  This team has done that.  All the guys help each other.  This is one of very few teams in racing where everybody pitches in and helps each other.  They all work together to get the job done and get it done right.  I think that mentality starts with Trip and moves its way down through the team.”