Oh for just one yellow flag.

That was #10 Valvoline Pontiac driver Johnny Benson's lament after Sunday's
NASCAR Winston Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway.  Benson started 22nd and fought traffic in the early going of the 300-lap race.

Normally that isn't a problem reasoned  Benson and his Valvoline teammates. If
history is any indication the caution flag would fly early and often on the
tight mile oval.

But Benson's much-needed yellow flag didn't come until lap 126.  Unfortunately, the leaders had passed him on lap 100.  "That was tough for us," Benson said after the race. "We got better as the day wore on, but losing that lap just got us down and it was next to impossible to make it up. We tried like heck, but really never had a shot at doing it."

After losing his lap, Benson and his Crew Chief James Ince worked to get Benson near the front of the field to battle with the leaders. The team tried different fuel and tire strategies but could never regain the lost lap.

"It's pretty much single file racing around here," Benson said. "Once you get
in traffic its pretty much follow-the-leader."  Benson ended the race down just one lap.

Jimmie Johnson overcame a pit road encounter with teammate/owner Jeff Gordon and won his second race at NHIS of the season.

Benson and his teammates return to action this weekend in Dover, Del.


Race Results

1. (8) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 300, $200,225.

2. (31) Ricky Rudd, Ford, 300, $145,055.

3. (25) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 300, $101,980.

4. (12) Bill Elliott, Dodge, 300, $144,108.

5. (6) Dale Earnhardt Jr, Chevrolet, 300, $111,992.

6. (11) Rusty Wallace, Dodge, 300, $106,317.

7. (19) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 300, $80,750.

8. (24) Elliott Sadler, Ford, 300, $97,700.

9. (1) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 300, $98,925.

10. (3) Jamie McMurray #, Dodge, 300, $68,650.

11. (10) Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 300, $69,750.

12. (16) John Andretti, Chevrolet, 300, $85,637.

13. (13) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 300, $96,528.

14. (26) Dave Blaney, Ford, 299, $81,950.

15. (28) Kurt Busch, Ford, 299, $89,375.

16. (37) Bobby Labonte, Chevrolet, 299, $99,308.

17. (18) Casey Mears #, Dodge, 299, $75,500.

18. (2) Terry Labonte, Chevrolet, 299, $84,856.

19. (7) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 299, $99,978.

20. (32) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 299, $107,278.

21. (17) Robby Gordon, Chevrolet, 299, $80,762.

22. (14) Mike Skinner, Pontiac, 299, $63,639.

23. (34) Jimmy Spencer, Dodge, 299, $55,850.

24. (35) Scott Wimmer, Chevrolet, 299, $51,550.

25. (22) Johnny Benson, Pontiac, 299, $81,600.

26. (5) Michael Waltrip, Chevrolet, 299, $69,150.

27. (41) Jason Leffler, Pontiac, 298, $53,925.

28. (33) Mark Martin, Ford, 298, $87,583.

29. (9) Sterling Marlin, Dodge, 298, $94,465.

30. (40) Kyle Petty, Dodge, 298, $61,225.

31. (43) Christian Fittipaldi, Dodge, 298, $85,803.

32. (30) Johnny Sauter, Pontiac, 297, $49,825.

33. (42) Tony Raines #, Chevrolet, 297, $50,530.

34. (39) Steve Park, Chevrolet, 297, $57,400.

35. (29) Todd Bodine, Ford, 296, $49,200.

36. (38) Kenny Wallace, Dodge, 295, $49,010.

37. (20) Ken Schrader, Dodge, 292, $48,850.

38. (21) Ricky Craven, Pontiac, 291, $56,700.

39. (23) Ward Burton, Dodge, 270, accident, $84,691.

40. (36) Hermie Sadler, Pontiac, 179, engine failure, $48,550.

41. (27) Dale Jarrett, Ford, 159, accident, $94,228.

42. (15) Jeff Burton, Ford, 117, engine failure, $81,817.

43. (4) Greg Biffle #, Ford, 108, engine failure, $49,060.


Average Speed of Race Winner: 106.580 mph.

Time of Race: 2 hours, 58 minutes, 41 seconds.

Margin of Victory: 6.240 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 6 for 38 laps.

Lead Changes: 20 among 11 drivers.

Lap Leaders: R. Newman 1-45; D. Earnhardt Jr 46-83; M. Waltrip 84-85; J.
Johnson 86; M. Kenseth 87-88; R. Gordon 89; S. Park 90; D. Earnhardt Jr.
91-126; R. Newman 127; B. Elliott 128-146; R. Newman 147; B. Elliott 148-183;

D. Earnhardt Jr 184-229; R. Rudd 230-255; M. Waltrip 256-271; J. Johnson
272-275; J. Gordon 276; K. Harvick 277-285; M. Kenseth 286-290; R. Gordon
291-293; J. Johnson 294-300.

Points

1 Matt Kenseth 4015
2 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3611
3 Kevin Harvick 3552
4 Jimmie Johnson 3543
5 Ryan Newman 3398
6 Jeff Gordon 3382
7 Kurt Busch 3323
8 Bobby Labonte 3323
9 Terry Labonte 3191
10 Michael Waltrip 3169
11 Tony Stewart 3121
12 Robby Gordon 3095
13 Jeff Burton 3046
14 Rusty Wallace 2962
15 Bill Elliott 2952
16 Mark Martin 2940
17 Sterling Marlin 2844
18 Jamie McMurray* 2819
19 Elliott Sadler 2771
20 Greg Biffle* 2747
21 Ward Burton 2740
22 Ricky Craven 2702
23 Ricky Rudd 2695
24 Joe Nemechek 2670
25 Jeremy Mayfield 2651
26 Johnny Benson 2642
27 Dale Jarrett 2510
28 Dave Blaney 2510
29 Jimmy Spencer 2383
30 Kenny Wallace 2299
31 Steve Park 2291
32 Todd Bodine 2236
33 Casey Mears* 2029
34 Jeff Green 1976
35 Kyle Petty 1909
36 Ken Schrader 1889
37 Tony Raines* 1868
38 John Andretti 1629
39 Mike Skinner 1560
40 Jack Sprague* 1284
41 Larry Foyt* 921
42 Mike Wallace 903
43 Jerry Nadeau 844
44 Christian Fittipaldi 717
45 Derrike Cope 549
46 Jason Leffler 458
47 Johnny Sauter 356
48 Brett Bodine 308
49 Kevin Lepage 266
50 Scott Pruett 236