I wanted to send a note to all of my fans thanking you for your support of the #10 team over the years.

By now you know that I have been told that ownership is pursuing "a complete makeover" of the #10 team and it will have a new driver in 2004. I wish them the best in their efforts.

Our guys had some great times at the #10. We started with Tim Beverley and a team that had no sponsor but had a desire to win. Since that season we earned more than a dozen top-five finishes and winning Rockingham last October was our crowning achievement not to mention a special day in all our lives.

There are a lot of teams in this sport that wish for the success and fun our team has had since 2000. No matter how our car was painted, we were a team of friends and that's something none of us will ever forget.

I want to thank James Ince and Jay Guy who as crew chiefs have managed to field cars and keep the team together through some trying situations. I especially want to thank the crew. Their long hours of work and dedication to this team is the only reason for the success we have achieved.

And to the fans I ask that you don't forget about us. No matter how the rest of "silly season" shakes out I think we'll be fine. I was in a similar position at the end of the 1999 season and you know how things worked out from there. My goal is to go to a team that wants to win races. I think you will see that we are extra motivated and ready to get back to the front of the field. 

Thanks again for your support.

Johnny Benson