June News

Happy Birthday, Johnny!
Johnny is celebrating his birthday today - June 27th.

 

Johnny Wins in Kalamazoo! 
It was a clear night for racing action at the Kalamazoo Speedway.  Qualifying from last week was scrapped and the late models had to requalify.  Johnny's time put him in the 2nd qualifying spot with Terry Senneker Jr. with the fastest time. 

The field was inverted by 12th - so Johnny started on the inside of the 6th row.   He slowly picked his way through the field - by lap 20 he was in 8th.  Johnny continued to pass his competitors until reaching the top 4.  Double file restarts kept everyone on their toes as the field was bunched up.  By lap 50, the #10 Berger Chevrolet - Scott Cards Chevrolet was in the lead until the checkered flag flew.

Johnny being interviewed after winning the 75 lap feature sponsored by Lane Automotive at Kalamazoo Speedway

Johnny to Race at Kalamazoo - June 26th
The late models are racing at Kalamazoo this Saturday and Johnny plans on racing in their 75 lap feature event.  Gates open at 4:00 p.m. with racing starting at 7:00 p.m.  Adults are $12.  Teens 12 - 15 $8 and kids 5 and under are free.  For more info - kalamazoospeedway.com

Happy Father's Day!

We would like to wish all the fathers
a Happy Father's Day!

Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models Make First Appearance at Berlin Raceway

Kyle Busch Wins the Rowdy Revenge
The Berlin Raceway hosted the second-annual, Rowdy's Revenge event on Wednesday night, June 16. After a rainout on Tuesday, all the big names including Kyle Busch, A.J. Allmendinger, Chase Elliott and Ross Kenseth returned for the biggest night in the track's 60 year history.

Kyle Busch won followed by Chase Elliott, Matt Kenseth, Jurkovic, Chris Anthony, Johnny VanDoorn, Ryan Blaney, Robbie Pyle, Joey Miller and Ross Meeuwsen.    omplete Story
 

Fan Sponsors Laps - Rowdy Revenge at Berlin
A dedicated JB fan let us know that they have sponsored laps 205 - 215 in the name of Johnny Benson fans for the the Rowdy Revenge 250 race at Berlin Raceway scheduled for Tuesday, June 15th. 

Kalamazoo Races Are Cancelled
The races have been cancelled at 6:45 p.m. due to the thunderstorms that are scheduled to pass through the Kalamazoo area.


Great Lakes Outlaw Series at Berlin
Johnny will be driving his #10 Late ModelNext up at Berlin Raceway on June 19 is Kerkstra Services Pro Stock Night featuring the Kerkstra Services Pro Stocks, Engine Pro Super Stocks, Burnips Equipment 4-Cyilnders and the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 60+, $5 for kids 6-12 and those five and under are free.


Johnny Returns to Michigan
It will be a busy weekend for Johnny as he returns to Michigan this weekend. 

On Friday night, he will be racing at Kalamazoo Speedway.  The price of admission is just $5 for the 75 lap late model event.  Gates open at 4:00 p.m. with racing beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Then it will be on to Berlin Raceway on Saturday night.  (If everything goes well on Friday night).   Kerkstra Services Pro Stock Night Great Lakes Late Model Series-100, Super Stocks-30, Pro Stocks-40, Young Guns-15, 4-Cylinders-20/15. 

38 Stars entered so far for Rowdy's Revenge 251 including Kyle Busch, David Stremme, Ross Kenseth, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and others
AJ Allmendinger and stout Modified field to race for potential $3,000-to-win

Marne, MI - Berlin Raceway is well underway with its 60th season of operation, hosting local division racing every Saturday night. West Michigan race fans have been thrilled with this year's excitement on the track and enjoyed a family friendly environment and entertainment as good as you will see anywhere in the country. Area fans and drivers alike may not realize though, the magnitude of the event that's about to take place.

The biggest one day race in the tracks storied 60 year history, on  Tuesday night June 15. NASCAR Champions Kyle Busch and Bill Elliott quickly recognized its prestige, taking part in the festivities scheduled for the mid-week second annual event. The CRA Super Series will sanction a non-points race for its competitors, gathering attention from drivers all over the United States. Thirty eight drivers have registered to date, making it the tracks largest field of template-bodied cars this decade and arguably the biggest pool of talent in CRA history.

Creating a twist to the race night is the addition of the Modified class, which will compete for 50-laps at the mid-race break of the CRA feature. Richard Petty Motorsports Valvoline driver AJ Allmendinger has entered the event, to help raise money for the Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital Foundation. Berlin officials anticipate over 30 cars for the race which will pay $3,000-to-win and $200-to-start, as well as a chance to race door to door with a NASCAR star that pilots the famous #43 on Sunday.

"We couldn't be much more excited for this race to get here," said Michael Blackmer, owner of Berlin Raceway. "As much as the race keeps growing and growing every day, and all the drivers and area businesses support is really making this neat."

In 2009, Kyle Busch came to the Marne, Michigan racetrack for the first time in his own template late model. After chasing the setup for much of the race, Kyle managed a respectable fourth place finish at one of the nation's toughest tracks. With Kyle's drive to conquer every track he visits, he will return for revenge on the .438 mile speedway in his #51 NOS Energy Toyota.

ASA Late Model Challenge Series Champion Brian Campbell is the defending race champion, and won this spring on May 8 in the CRA 125-lap race. Busch often refers to Campbell as 'the owner' of Berlin, speaking to the strength that both he and legend Fred Campbell have at the track.

Other up and coming stars Chase Elliott and Ross Kenseth are both entered for the race, as well as Ryan Blaney. These youngsters have the guiding light of fathers with years of experience at racings top level of NASCAR and are expected to be at the track to coach their sons. David Stremme has also placed his entry for the big event, hoping to put his family owned #35 into victory lane come the finish, and Rich Bickle as well.

"We are really looking forward to the Rowdy's Revenge 251 at Berlin. This will be one of the biggest late model events in the country this season, with one of the most talented field of drivers CRA has ever had in an event," said Glenn Luckett, Series Director for the Champion Racing Association. "We greatly appreciate Mike Blackmer for putting on this event, there are very few times an asphalt late model driver gets to compete for $25,000 to win!"

Kyle Busch, AJ Allmendinger, and Bill Elliott will all be on the concourse to meet and greet fans who seek autographs prior to the nights racing. Tickets for the special event are $20.00 for adults, seniors 60+ $18.00 and kids 6-12 only $5.00. Kids 5-under are always free.

The Berlin Raceway hosts short-track racing every Saturday night, and is located just 10-minutes north of Grand Rapids, off I-96 in Marne. Information can be found at www.berlinraceway.com or by calling 616-662-2051.

Almirola wins at Michigan
#51-Aric Almirola took over the lead with just seven laps to go, to win the VFW 200 at Michigan Int'l Speedway. A restart with less than ten laps remaining, saw three-wide racing between Almirola and then race leader #30-Todd Bodine and #18-Kyle Busch running in third. Almirola, sandwiched in the middle, held onto his position, making the pass on the inside to take the lead from Bodine and go on to pick up the win. Bodine finished second, with Busch third.

It was Almirola's second series win; his previous win came earlier this season at Dover. This is the first win for Billy Ballew Motorsports at Michigan. Rounding out the top ten were; #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., #3-Austin Dillon, #17-Timothy Peters, #23-Jason White, #81-David Starr, #2-Elliott Sadler, #15-Nelson Piquet. There were 20 lead changes among 10 drivers, with five cautions for 24 laps.          

Congratulations to Billy Ballew Motorsports! .....  Billy Ballew Motorsports is now on Twitter and Facebook.  Become a friend and follow BBM to receive the latest team news, pictures and performance updates. Make sure you don’t get left behind, join us today.  Twitter Link - @BBM1551  Facebook Link – www.facebook.com/BillyBallewMotorsports
          
Benson On The Sidelines at MIS
By:  Steve Kaminski

It wasn't long ago when Johnny Benson Jr. and Mike Skinner made up one of the most formidable teams in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

The duo combined to win nine of the 25 races in 2007 while driving Toyota Tundras for Bill Davis Racing, with Skinner finishing second in points and Benson third. Benson returned in 2008 and won five races and the championship.  BDR folded after the 2008 season, but the two veterans have continued to move forward with their careers, and each one has encountered his own challenges this spring.

The Truck series has returned to Michigan International Speedway for the VFW 200 at 1:30 p.m. today. Benson is racing on a part-time basis this season, taking rides when they are available, and the Grand Rapids native is not entered in today's race.

Meanwhile, Skinner is trying to battle back from a slow start. Skinner, the 1995 truck champion, enters the race sixth in points, 219 behind front-running Todd Bodine.

Skinner is in his second season of racing the No. 5 Randy Moss Motorsports Toyota and has struggled through the season's first eight races.  But Skinner and his team have come up with a plan for today's race.  "We have been running new stuff this year that we thought was the latest and greatest out there, but it just doesn't have the speed," Skinner said. "Obviously, we missed something in the setup. We have run three different setups and have done everything we can on the setup side to get speed out of this truck.  "I will be honest with you. We are going to be racing a truck this weekend from last year. It's the oldest truck in the building. We ran it twice last year, and it ran pretty good at Michigan. It's an oldie but a goodie."

Benson has entered five races for three teams, and posting top-10 finishes in all five events. He finished 10th in his most recent start, last weekend at Texas while racing for Kyle Busch. However, nothing popped up for today's race, so he will sit it out.

"You can let it bother you, but then all it does is bother you," said Benson, 46. "It's just one of those deals. I take the ones that I can do, and when I go, I try to win the race. That's what I try to do.  I will take opportunities if we are capable of going out and winning the race. I have turned down start and park teams and things of that nature because that's not what I'm about. I'm all about going racing and trying to win the race."

Skinner, 53, said he was contemplating retiring two years ago but decided to continue to race as long as he is competitive. He said he plans to stay in racing in some type of capacity once his driving days are done.

Skinner added he is looking forward to the day he and his former teammate can battle it out for a championship once again.  "It really does surprise me that Johnny doesn't have a full-time ride, but it is a product of our times right now," Skinner said. "He is a recent champion of the series. I think he has been offered rides, but he wants to be back in a truck that he can be competitive. It's where I was at when I was in Sprint Cup. I wanted to be in a car that was competitive.  "I know several people that will be willing to put him in a truck. But if it is not capable of winning, he would rather sit out until one comes along.

Texas Photos
By:  JB Fan - Bob

    

Benson Soldiers to 10th Place Finish
By:  True Speed Communication

Top 10 Finish for Johnny in Texas
Johnny Benson brings home a Top-10 Finish for Kyle Busch Motorsports tonight at Texas Motor Speedway. After fighting an ill handling truck for the first half of the race, the KBM team made the adjustment needed to get Benson back into contention. While waiting for the stop to make adjustment, Benson got a lap down, while he fought had to regain the lap, it was with no avail, and in the end had to settle for a 10th place finish. First Truck one lap down.

JOHNNY BENSON, No. 18 Toyota Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports
Finishing Position: 10th

Was your truck hard to handle tonight?

"We really didn't practice this setup. We put it in going into qualifying, so we didn't have any time on it. We just made a couple changes to the adjustments we made and then after we started going back the other way, it started getting good. Then twice within a quarter of a lap of grabbing the 'lucky dog' we just couldn't get it. It made for a really long day.



I still have to thank Kyle (Busch, owner) and everybody for letting me come and do this. I wish I could have done a better job for him but I guess we were able to come out of here to move on to the next one. If we would have got the 'lucky dog' and one more adjustment, I think we could have ran in the top-five, we just didn't have a top-five truck at the beginning. It was no where near it. By the end, I think we had a close to a top-five truck we were just on the wrong lap."

Bodine wins at Texas
Johnny Finishes 10th

Another dominating performance at Texas by #30-Todd Bodine as he held onto the lead one last time following a green-white checkered restart to pick up the win in the WinStar World Casino 400K at Texas Motor Speedway. This is Bodine's 6th win at Texas Motor Speedway - a record in the series, and his 18th overall series win. Bodine also broke his 24-race winless streak.

Rounding out the top ten were; #13-Johnny Sauter, #3-Austin Dillon, #5-Mike Skinner, #2-Ken Schrader, #31-James Buescher, #17-Timothy Peters, #15-Nelson Piquet Jr., #33-Ron Hornaday Jr., #18-Johnny Benson. There were only nine trucks on the lead lap at race end. There were 6 lead changes among 9 drivers with 6 caution flags for 29 laps.

Sights from Texas
By:  Ryan Kingbury

Texas - JB Qualifies 13th
Johnny Benson qualified 13^th for Friday night’s WinStar World Casino 400k NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The driver of the No. 18 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) turned a lap of 30.547 seconds at 176.777 mph.

“It was good,” said Benson, who has 14 victories in the Camping World Truck Series and won the 2008 points championship. “Our Tundra drove great. We made a couple of changes from practice to there and that was the first time I ran a qualifying run. It was good, real stable and I think it’s going to race really well. I’m pretty excited about that.” 

Rookie Austin Dillon captured his first career Camping World Truck Series pole by posting a lap of 30.226 seconds at 178.654 mph.

Matt Crafton will start alongside Dillon on the outside of row one, as he timed in at 30.256 seconds at 178.477 mph. James Buescher (30.346 seconds at 177.948 mph) was third, while Todd Bodine (30.357 seconds at 177.883 mph) and Ricky Carmichael (30.379 seconds at 177.754 mph) rounded out the top-five.

As far as manufacturers went, Chevrolet swept the top three spots thanks to the qualifying efforts of Dillon, Crafton and Buescher. Toyota was next best at the hands of fourth-fastest Bodine, while Dodge was the third-fastest make thanks to sixth-quick Jason White (30.381 seconds at 177.743 mph. Rookie Jennifer Jo Cobb, who qualified 24^th, was the top Ford at 31.477 seconds at 171.554 mph.

The WinStar World Casino 400k gets underway at 9 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 4 with live coverage provided by SPEED beginning with its pre-race show at 8:30 p.m.

Texas Preview
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 1, 2010) – Kyle Busch Motorsports driver-owner Kyle Busch knew exactly who he was going to call.

With the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra vacant for Friday’s WinStar World Casino 400k NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Busch immediately put in a call to 2008 Truck Series champion Johnny Benson.  

Benson wasted little time saying yes and will pilot the No. 18 Toyota Tundra in search of his 15^th career Camping World Truck Series victory.  

KBM driver Brian Ickler was originally scheduled to drive at Texas, but due to his success at KBM (two top-five finishes in just two starts in 2010), he was offered a partial schedule in the Nationwide Series with Roush Fenway Racing, including this weekend’s race at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.  

While Ickler will still drive some Truck Series races for KBM, Benson was the natural fill-in at Texas.  

The 46-year-old Grand Rapids, Mich., native has 14 career Truck Series victories and, in addition to his 2008 series championship, he also won the 1995 Nationwide Series title.  

Benson has proven to be successful at Texas, having scored six top-five finishes in 10 starts at the 1.5-mile oval. He also scored two top-five finishes in eight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts in the Lone Star State.  

No stranger to Toyota, all 14 of Benson’s Truck Series triumphs, as well as his 2008 championship, came with the highly successful manufacturer.  

Friday night, he’ll look to play a part in the drive for an owner’s championship for Kyle Busch Motorsports. With Busch’s victory two weeks ago at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, the No. 18 Toyota extended its points lead in the owner’s championship to 49 over the No. 30 truck of Germain Racing.   

Johnny Benson, Driver, No. 18 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:

Overall thoughts heading to Texas?
“I’m excited about it, obviously. The trucks out of Kyle’s shop have been very good, and every racecar driver wants to get in equipment that is capable of winning a race. To me, it’s a pretty big deal to run for Kyle. It’s pretty cool for me to able to run for him.”

All 14 of your NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victories, and your 2008 points championship, came using Toyota Tundra trucks. Can you talk about your relationship with Toyota?
“Toyota’s done a tremendous amount for my career in the Truck Series. We’ve won 14 races and all of them have been with Toyota. I was able to pick up a championship with them in 2008, and that was special for me, especially with all the support they give their race teams. It’s something that really means a lot to me, especially given the effort they put into the program.”

You have six top-five finishes in 10 Truck Series starts at Texas. What does it take to be fast there?
“Like any racetrack, you have to be able to run the bottom and you have to be able to run wide open. You just might not be able to do it all day. In the Truck Series, Texas is a momentum type of racetrack, so being able to keep your momentum up and your speed up throughout the entire race is very important. We’ve had a lot of great runs there. It’s a track I’ve always run well at and it’s a place I’ve always loved to race at. They’ve got some of the best fans in the world there and it’s a neat place because Texas always does everything big. It’s one of the highest-attended races of the year and it’s always cool to race at the big events.” 

How tough is it to come into a situation where you haven’t worked with a crew chief or a team before?
“I think, as a young guy, that’s probably is a little more difficult. The one thing that’s nice is Eric (Phillips, crew chief) has been around. He’s won races and he’s a good crew chief. So, as a driver coming in, you’ve got that little bit of a comfort zone knowing the team already runs well and has had success. I’ve been around long enough and worked with enough people that it doesn’t take long to get a good line of communication going. I know what I like in the vehicle and I know the crew chief is confident enough to get it where we need it. That’s a good scenario going in. Is it the best scenario? No, because when you work with people for a long time, you know what they want. But, I think it’s a good scenario going into this because the truck already has had success.” 

Rick Ren, Director of Competition, Kyle Busch Motorsports:

Thoughts on Johnny Benson driving the No. 18 Toyota in place of Brian Ickler?
“First of all, I think this is a great opportunity for Brian Ickler. We all do. It’s part of what the Truck Series is about – the opportunity of young guys and young talent to maybe get some attention and take a shot at going to another level. It left us in a little bit of predicament because Brian was supposed to run Texas and I know he was looking forward to doing that. So, we made a phone call to our old friend Johnny Benson. He and I ran Texas together back in 2005 and 2006 and Johnny gets around Texas really well. I think he’ll be a really good addition to our program.” 

What does he bring to the team in terms of experience?
“Johnny won a championship a few years ago and I actually finished second in points with him a few years back. Johnny is a real methodical driver who is just always creeping his way toward the front if he doesn’t start up front. He’s very patient and only goes when it’s time to go. He’s not a guy who wants to go out and lead every lap, but he has his own way of making sure he’s right there at the end of the race.” 

You have some very important family business to attend to back in Illinois and will not be at the Texas race. Talk about that and the last time you missed a race.  
“I’m going to miss the Texas race because my only daughter, Staci, is getting married up in Illinois. The last time I missed a race was Texas 2006, the fall race, when I had emergency back surgery. So, it will be Texas and Texas as the only races I’ve missed, but I sort of quarterbacked that one from the couch with a telephone and a guy with a radio and my car chief calling the shots at the racetrack. Benson was actually leading the race that race and lost an engine. I know everything will run smoothly, though, and I know Eric (Phillips, crew chief) and Johnny will get along great.”

Kyle Busch, Owner, Kyle Busch Motorsports

You have Johnny Benson in the No. 18 Toyota this week. What is the current status with Brian Ickler?
“I brought Brian in to drive Billy Ballew’s trucks last year and he did a good job. He had a couple of top-fives and a few top-10s. I really liked his feel and what he was doing, so I brought him on this year to drive my trucks. I threw him in right before Martinsville. He wasn’t even supposed to race Martinsville and he did a great job, finishing third there. He ran fourth at Kansas, so he’s got a better average than I do in the Truck Series (this year). He’s done a really good job. What the Truck Series is, it’s a grooming area for young drivers in order to bring them up through the ranks.

“Roush Fenway Racing called Ickler and asked him about what his deal was with me and if he could get out of it and try to move on into the Nationwide Series ranks. I have no reason to hold Brian Ickler back. It’s all for his best interest. I feel like I’ve done what I needed to do to help him move on up so, hopefully, he can make a name for himself and a place for himself over there at Roush and do a good job. The remainder of this season, we’re going to have to work around our schedule a little bit and Roush’s schedule a little bit to see what races they want him to run. Right now, I think he’s slated to run Charlotte, Nashville and Daytona. Nashville conflicts with the trucks in Texas, so we’ll be putting Johnny Benson in the truck for Texas and we’ll play it by ear after that. We don’t know what other races Roush wants to run him in, yet.”

What led you to put Johnny Benson in your truck for Texas?
“I wanted to put Johnny (Benson) in a third truck if we could ever find the money to do it. I just told Johnny, ‘Look, if I ever have the opportunity, I gave my word to Brian Ickler that he’s going to drive this truck and if there’s ever any availability, I want you to be the first to know that you’ll be in my truck.’ Here’s the first available time and he got the call. I think it’s a great opportunity for him. I think we’ve got great equipment. Our trucks run really well and we’re fast. Of course, it’s a Toyota, so him driving Toyotas is all familiar to us. I wish him all the best and hope he wins for us."                                                 

Johnny Benson’s Toyota Tundra

Chassis No. KBM-002: This truck was used by KBM driver-owner Kyle Busch in March at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he started second and finished second after leading 15 laps. Busch then drove the truck to victory in the April 2 Nashville 200 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. After starting on the pole, Busch led 131 of 150 laps en route to the first victory for KBM.

Tom Thomas Brings Experience to Kalamazoo Speedway
By:  Jay Bussa
Tom Thomas admitted it might sound a little arrogant to say he’s going to win a track title in his first year competing full-time at the Kalamazoo Speedway.  He took the risk.

There’s credibility behind the 36-year-old Grandville native’s words. He has, after all, won Late Model titles at Berlin Raceway in Marne in two of the last four seasons.  Complete Story

Tom Thomas is sponsored by Benson Speed Equipment and drives a Johnny Benson car ....