NASCAR
Drivers From Lots Of Places
This weekend the NASCAR Winston Cup Series visits the road
course of Sears Point International Raceway in Sonoma, Cal -
not exactly a traditional venue for the sport whose proud
roots started on dirt tracks throughout the South.
But NASCAR is changing and so are the places where teams
find drivers. More than a third of the drivers that comprise
the top 43 spots in the driver standings come from three
states: Indiana, California and Missouri. Although most
drivers live near Charlotte, N.C. a typical weekend’s entry
list includes the drivers’ official hometowns that represent
about 20 states.
For drivers like #10 Valvoline Pontiac driver Johnny Benson,
a native of Grand Rapids, Mich. NASCAR’s growing diversity
is an indication of the sport’s success.
Johnny Benson On NASCAR Racing Encompassing Entire
Country:
"There were days when I guess you could say me and other
guys from outside the South were a minority, but if you walk
through the garage anymore you can hear all kinds of
accents. It’s not just that. We get stopped for autographs
in places you might never think we’d be popular. I’ve signed
autographs in the Waldorf Astoria in New York, in Japan, and
we get fan mail from Europe all the time. NASCAR Racing is a
national if not international sport and I hope it keeps
growing. Look at the number of fans that show up for our
races in New York, California, Michigan, Texas and
Indianapolis. In a few years I bet you will add a few names
from outside the United States to that list."
Benson On Road Courses:
"They are kind of fun. I’m glad we only have to do two a
year. Now if they had
a schedule with a lot more road courses then I might go find
some other thing
to do. You get better the more you run but by the same token
everyone else does too. That keeps the playing field fairly
equal."
Benson On Road Course Strategy:
"You run the best you can and you have to stay on the track.
If you stay on the
track, by the end of the day you should be in pretty good
shape."
Driver State By State
Indiana 5
(Stewart, J. Gordon, Newman, Andretti, Raines)
California 5
(R. Gordon, Skinner, Mears, Johnson, Harvick)
Missouri 5
(Schrader, R.Wallace, M. Wallace, K.Wallace, McMurray)
Virginia 4
(J.Burton, W.Burton, Sadler, Rudd)
North Carolina 3
(Earnhardt, Jarrett, Petty)
Kentucky 3
(Mayfield, M.Waltrip, J.Green)
Texas 3
(T.Labonte, B.Labonte, Foyt)
Michigan 2
(Benson, Sprague)
New York 2
(Park, T.Bodine)
Georgia 1
(Elliott)
Arkansas 1
(Martin)
Wisconsin 1
(Kenseth)
Connecticut 1
(Nadeau)
Pennsylvania 1
(Spencer)
Tennessee 1
(Marlin)
Florida 1
(Nemechek)
Maine 1
(Craven)
Washington 1
(Biffle)
Nevada 1
(Busch)
Ohio 1
(Blaney)
Benson Sears Point Record
Year S F
2002 30 15
2001 14 29
2000 35 18
1999 35 26
1998 19 21
1997 35 21
1996 31 18
Race Information
THE RACE: Dodge/Save Mart 350
Winston Cup Race #16 of 36 for the 2003 Winston Cup season
Race: Sunday, June 22, 2003 in Sonoma, CA
TV: Fox - 4:00pm/et
Pre-Race Show: Fox - 3:30pm/et - with hosts Chris Myers and
Jeff Hammond
Race Re-Air: June 25th at 8:00pm/et on Speed Channel, June
26th at 1:00am/et and 3:00pm/et on Speed Channel
Announcers: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds
Pit Reporters: Dick Berggren, Matt Yocum, Steve Byrnes,
Jeanne Zelasko
Hollywood Hotel: Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond
Purse/Race Awards: $4,458,247 (was $4,007,910 in 2002)
2002 Race Winner: Ricky Rudd, 81.107mph, started 7th
Race Record: Ricky Rudd, June 2002, 81.007mph (current
layout)
Race Record: Jeff Gordon, June 2000, 78.789mph (old layout).
Track/Race Length: 1.99 mile road course, 110 laps, 218.9
miles, 350 kilometers.
Pit Road Speed: 35mph
Practice
Practice: Friday, June 20th, 2:20 - 4:20pm/et; and Saturday,
June 21st, 12:30 -
1:15pm/et
Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, June 21st, 2:10 - 2:55pm/et
on TV-FX via live.
Qualifying
Qualifying Draw: Friday, June 20th, 1:00pm/et
First Round Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-36, Friday,
June 20th at 6:05pm/et, TV-Speed Channel live, re-air at
1:00am/et, and live via PRN radio/internet
Track Qualifying Record: Rusty Wallace, June 2000, 99.309mph
(old layout)
Track Qualifying Record: Tony Stewart, June 2002, 93.476mph
(current layout)
June 2002 Pole Sitter: Tony Stewart, 93.476mph, finished 2nd
Track Specs:
1.99 mile Road Course with 10 turns
Pit Road/Stalls: 16' wide by 29' long, 58' wide
increased from 1.949 miles to 1.99 after the 2000 season
PAST RACE WINNERS at Infineon Raceway
2002 Ricky Rudd
2001 Tony Stewart
2000 Jeff Gordon
1999 Jeff Gordon
1998 Jeff Gordon
1997 Mark Martin
1996 Rusty Wallace
1995 Dale Earnhardt
1994 Ernie Irvan
1993 Geoffrey Bodine
1992 Ernie Irvan
1991 Davey Allison
1990 Rusty Wallace
1989 Ricky Rudd
PAST POLE WINNERS at Infineon Raceway
2002: Tony Stewart 93.476
2001: Jeff Gordon 93.699
2000: Rusty Wallace 99.309
1999: Jeff Gordon 98.519
1998: Jeff Gordon 98.711
1997: Mark Martin 92.807
1996: Terry Labonte 92.524
1995: Ricky Rudd 92.132
1994: Ernie Irvan 91.514
1993: Dale Earnhardt, 91.838
1992: Ricky Rudd, 90.985
1991: Ricky Rudd, 90.634
1990: Ricky Rudd, 90.743
1989: Rusty Wallace, 90.041
10 Valvoline Pontiac Team Television Information
Pit Contact: James Ince or Drew Brown
Owners: Valvoline (Jim Rocco)/MB2 Motorsports (Tom Beard,
Nelson Bowers, Read Morton)
Crew Chief/Car Chief: James Ince
Engine Builder: Hendrick Motorsports
Spotter (Race Day) Jay Guy
Spotter (Practice Only) Russell Hoekwater
Engine Tuner John Kendrach
Over The Wall Pit Crew
Front Tire Changer Bobby Burrell
Front Tire Carrier Shane Cooke
Rear Tire Changer Greg Burkhart
Rear Tire Carrier Steve Genenbacher
Gasman Jimmy Watts
Tire Specialist Skippy Johnson
Catch Can Steve Mann
Jackman Doug Morgan
Other Crew Members
Truck Driver: Gale (Bandit) Wilson
Mechanic: Jerry Hess
Mechanic: David Baum
Shocks: Mike Cluka
Tires: Jeff (Skippy) Johnson
Engineer: Tim Turner
Computers & Gas Runner: John Hayes
Scorer: Terry Lane
Pit Stop Coach: Gary Smith
PR Rep: Drew Brown
|
|
Victory Lane
ORP
July 25, 2008
Kentucky
July 19, 2008
Milwaukee
June 20, 2008
Berger
Chevrolet
Check Out
Berlin Raceway
Results
Berlin Raceway
Racing Broadcast on 92.5 - The Outlaw
Click Here
to listen on
the web
Berlin Raceway
Hall of Fame
John Benson Sr.
Harry Obie
Bob Knight
Gail Cobb
Ralph Baker
Jimmy Meyer
The Mysliwiec's
 |
|
2008
Craftsman Truck Schedule
|
02/15 |
Daytona |
|
02/23 |
California |
|
03/07 |
Atlanta |
|
03/29 |
Martinsville |
|
04/26 |
Kansas |
|
05/16 |
Lowes |
|
05/24 |
Mansfield |
|
05/30 |
Dover |
|
06/06 |
Texas |
|
06/14 |
MIS |
|
06/20 |
Milwaukee |
|
06/28 |
Memphis |
|
07/19 |
Kentucky |
|
07/25 |
Indy |
|
08/09 |
Nashville |
|
08/20 |
Bristol |
|
09/06 |
Gateway |
|
09/13 |
Loudon |
|
09/20 |
Las Vegas |
|
10/04 |
Talladega |
|
10/18 |
Martinsville |
|
10/25 |
Atlanta |
|
10/31 |
Texas |
|
11/07 |
Phoenix |
|
11/14 |
Homestead |
|
|
2008
Nationwide
Schedule |
|
02/16 |
Daytona |
|
02/23 |
California |
|
03/01 |
Las Vegas |
|
03/08 |
Atlanta |
|
03/15 |
Bristol |
|
03/22 |
Nashville |
|
04/05 |
Texas |
|
04/11 |
Phoenix |
|
04/20 |
Mexico |
|
04/26 |
Talladega |
|
05/02 |
Richmond |
|
05/09 |
Darlington |
|
05/24 |
Lowes |
|
05/31 |
Dover |
|
06/07 |
Nashville |
|
06/14 |
Kentucky |
|
06/21 |
Milwaukee |
|
06/28 |
New Hampshire |
|
07/04 |
Daytona |
|
07/11 |
Chicago |
|
07/19 |
Gateway |
|
07/26 |
Indy |
|
08/02 |
Montreal |
|
08/09 |
Watkins Glen |
|
08/16 |
Michigan |
|
08/22 |
Bristol |
|
08/30 |
California |
|
09/05 |
Richmond |
|
09/20 |
Dover |
|
09/27 |
Kansas |
|
10/10 |
Lowes |
|
10/25 |
Memphis |
|
11/01 |
Texas |
|
11/08 |
Phoenix |
|
11/15 |
Miami |
|
|
2008
Sprint Cup
Schedule |
|
02/17 |
Daytona |
|
02/24 |
California |
|
03/02 |
Las Vegas |
|
03/09 |
Atlanta |
|
03/16 |
Bristol |
|
03/30 |
Martinsville |
|
04/06 |
Texas |
|
04/12 |
Phoenix |
|
04/27 |
Talladega |
|
05/03 |
Richmond |
|
05/10 |
Darlington |
|
05/25 |
Lowes |
|
06/01 |
Dover |
|
06/08 |
Pocono |
|
06/15 |
MIS |
|
06/22 |
Sonoma |
|
06/29 |
New Hampshire |
|
07/05 |
Daytona |
|
07/12 |
Chicago |
|
07/27 |
Indy |
|
08/03 |
Pocono |
|
08/10 |
Watkins Glen |
|
08/17 |
MIS |
|
08/23 |
Bristol |
|
08/31 |
California |
|
09/06 |
Richmond |
|
09/14 |
Loudon |
|
09/21 |
Lowes |
|
09/28 |
Kansas |
|
10/05 |
Talladega |
|
10/11 |
Lowes |
|
10/19 |
Martinsville |
|
10/26 |
Atlanta |
|
11/02 |
Texas |
|
11/09 |
Phoenix |
|
11/16 |
Miami |
|
|
2008
JB's Berlin
Schedule |
|
|
August 2nd |
|
|
September 27th |
|
|
|
|
