Q & A with Johnny
By:  Mark DeCotis - Floridaytoday.com

The points race in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck race is the antithesis in major North American racing. Johnny Benson leads defending and three-time champion Ron Hornaday by 15 points with 11 races to go. We spoke with Benson about the points race:

Question: What will it take to hold off Ron (Hornaday) down the stretch?

Answer: "We just have to keep doing the things we have to do to, you know, be consistent and go win races. Ron's won three, we've won three. With that being said, we're going to win more races to win this championship I believe."

Q: You were second and third in points the past two seasons. Is this the year you win your second NASCAR championship and what would it mean?

A: "We'd surely like it to be that way for sure. It would mean a lot not just exactly for myself either but for (crew chief) Trip Bruce and all the guys that work at Bill Davis Racing. They work so hard and I believe they deserve . . . a championship. I think that would be a great thing for them."

Q: It also would be (truck owner) Bill (Davis) first championship wouldn't it?

A: "It would be and it's something I'd be really proud to be part of, if we could make it happen."

Q: Of all the major North American Series, the trucks are really the only series with a tight points race this season. What do you think accounts for that?

A: "I'm not sure. It's been that way the past three seasons. It's been extremely tight and it's gone all the way down to the end and not just for first, but for second, third, fourth, fifth. When it comes down to the end of the season, it seems to always be so tight and I don't know why. I know it's very competitive. We've had, like in the first nine races, eight different winners. I think that's something that's very unusual in today's racing world. I just believe that it's just extremely competitive and a lot of great teams out there."

Q: Is the vehicles or the drivers or a combination?

A: "I think it's a combination of everything. We've got a lot of talented drivers. One thing I think is great about the truck series, although very expensive like anything else, you do it with less people. And I think sometimes when you have less people obviously you have a little less resources and it just becomes a racing world instead of an engineering world and I think at times that always provides some great racing."

Q: How would you describe your frame of mind going down to the final 11 races?

A: "No different than the first 15. I've been fortunate enough to win three different championships (NASCAR Busch Series, 1995, ASA 1993, late model champion, Berlin Raceway, 1989) and I really don't view the races any different at the end of the season than I do at the beginning. I don't think my mindset will change or anything like that. I've been in this situation before, obviously Ron's been in this situation before. And if we can just keep the team calm and just going down the right path. . . . it should turn out to be a great battle."

Q: Has season lived up to expectations you had coming in?