Another good race and another wrecked race car. That’s the story of Johnny Benson’s race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday and a microcosm of a frustrating season.

Benson wasn’t hurt after slamming the wall and his car catching fire with just 5 laps to go in Sunday’s 400-mile race. With his four fresh tires, Benson was charging to the front of the field and appeared destined for at least a top seven finish.

Going into turns three and four he encountered the lapped car of Jimmy Spencer who had wrecked Greg Biffle earlier in the race.

"It just looked like (Spencer) wanted to take me down in the grass,” said Benson who finished 23rd. “Then, I went underneath him and got on the apron. I slid up into him after that. We were just sliding and got hit. Guys just do a lot of blocking. I don't know, maybe he was moving down to the grass to let me by on the outside. But, I was already committed underneath him. Then, I ran into him after I hit the apron."

For Benson, Spencer’s encounter ended a great race but it also ruined his favorite race car.

"We had a pretty good run. The Valvoline Pontiac had run pretty good. But we were going to run this car the rest of the year. That's the only bad thing. But, we've got some more,” Benson said. "I hate it. I tore up a really good race car. We were just trying to do the best we can, but it didn't end up on the best note."

In the first half of the race Benson did everything he could to avoid trouble as the caution flag flew numerous times for crashes. Benson moved from 35th to the lead through some daring driving, pit strategy, and fast pit stops including a 13.8-second stop – the Valvoline team’s best of the season.

“We were just adjusting throughout the day and kept improving Benson said. "The guys in the pits were getting me in and out as well as they have all year."

Benson was running seventh when a debris caution fell with less than 15 laps remaining in the race. Benson came to the pits for four new tires while most leaders ahead of him stayed on the track or only took only two tires.

With the new rubber, he expected to have an advantage on the competition and he did.

Benson restarted the race in 10th and had climbed to eighth when he and Spencer collided.

Jeff Gordon dominated the second half of the race Sunday but Benson’s accident brought out the red flag to conclude lap 262. After a delay of 13:16 min. the final green flag flew at lap 265 of 267. Once again, Gordon easily pulled away and led Ryan Newman across the finish line.

Benson’s chances for a career first victory were hampered at New Hampshire two weeks ago when Rusty Wallace and Benson collided. The pair collided again early in the race Sunday but Benson managed to avoid wrecking.

Race Results

1 Jeff Gordon

2 Ryan Newman *

3 Rusty Wallace

4 Joe Nemechek

5 Bill Elliott

6 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

7 Matt Kenseth

8 Tony Stewart

9 Jeremy Mayfield

10 Jimmie Johnson *

11 Kevin Harvick

12 Terry Labonte

13 Robby Gordon

14 John Andretti

15 Kyle Petty

16 Kenny Wallace

17 Jeff Green

18 Elliott Sadler

19 Mike Wallace

20 Ricky Rudd

21 Dave Blaney

22 Bobby Labonte

23 Johnny Benson

24 Jimmy Spencer

25 Mark Martin

26 Michael Waltrip

27 Jerry Nadeau

28 Ken Schrader

29 Jeff Burton

30 Steve Park

31 Kurt Busch

32 Mike Skinner

33 Sterling Marlin

34 Todd Bodine

35 Jack Sprague

36 Greg Biffle

37 Stuart Kirby

38 Ricky Craven

39 Dale Jarrett

40 Morgan Shepherd

41 Tony Raines

42 Casey Atwood

43 Ward Burton