Benson 29th
at Rockingham
#10
Valvoline Pontiac driver Johnny Benson battled back from two
laps down in
the first half of Sunday's race at North Carolina
Speedway in Rockingham. But,
the second half of the 400-mile race wasn't nearly as
much fun.
An untimely caution flag coupled with chassis problems late
in the race dropped Benson three of the five laps he
finished behind the leaders and left him with a 29th-place
finish.
"Last year was a lot more fun," joked Benson who won this
race last season. "We struggled early today, but got our
laps back and things were looking pretty
good and then something broke on the car and we struggled
the second half of
the race. We weren't that bad but a yellow got us down two
of those laps and we lost the other when NASCAR said we
didn't beat the pace car out when we were working on the
car. We didn't agree with the penalty but there isn't much
you can do about it."
Benson started 25th but reported handling troubles
immediately. He lost a lap
to the leaders on lap 50 and then came into the pits for new
tires on lap 55
dropping him down two more laps. The faster tires enabled
him to regain one of
the lost laps but a yellow fell before the leaders pitted
and Benson was down
two laps.
Benson passed the leaders on a lap 84 restart and
caution to regain one of the
laps and then returned to the lead lap through the Lucky Dog
rule on lap 103.
"We thought we were going to be OK then," Benson said. "But
we weren't."
He gained spots and moved up to about 20th but the leaders
passed him on lap
220. Benson reported that something broke on the car.
The crew checked for a broken shock and track bar but could
make no quick fix for the problem.
Benson came in for new tires just before a lap 240 caution
dropping Benson down two more laps. NASCAR said the
Valvoline Pontiac didn't beat the pace car off pit road and
Benson fell another lap down.
While Benson struggled, Bill Elliott won his first race of
the year and Matt
Kenseth claimed his first Winston Cup title.
The 2003 Winston Cup season ends this weekend at
Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Results
1. (5) Bill Elliott, Dodge, 393, $207,648.
2. (18) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 393, $105,590.
3. (3) Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 393, $88,700.
4. (23) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 393, $92,650.
5. (1) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 393, $98,785.
6. (4) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, 393, $61,775.
7. (9) Jeff Burton, Ford, 393, $91,442.
8. (14) Bobby Labonte, Chevrolet, 393, $98,208.
9. (29) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 393, $100,403.
10. (31) Sterling Marlin, Dodge, 393, $99,425.
11. (10) Greg Biffle, Ford, 392, $56,675.
12. (20) Terry Labonte, Chevrolet, 392, $81,681.
13. (26) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 391, $92,042.
14. (8) Jimmy Spencer, Dodge, 391, $72,825.
15. (34) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 391, $91,403.
16. (27) Todd Bodine, Ford, 391, $69,475.
17. (19) Kurt Busch, Ford, 391, $82,925.
18. (13) Ward Burton, Pontiac, 390, $53,325.
19. (41) Jeff Green, Dodge, 390, $88,703.
20. (17) Robby Gordon, Chevrolet, 390, $79,612.
21. (15) Elliott Sadler, Ford, 390, $86,325.
22. (16) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 390, $96,203.
23. (7) Rusty Wallace, Dodge, 390, $86,242.
24. (2) Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 390, $52,175.
25. (6) Joe Nemechek, Pontiac, 390, $61,875.
26. (37) Scott Wimmer, Dodge, 389, $83,731.
27. (22) Dave Blaney, Ford, 389, $66,849.
28. (42) Larry Foyt, Dodge, 389, $47,260.
29. (25) Johnny Benson, Pontiac, 388, $76,825.
30. (36) John Andretti, Chevrolet, 388, $75,142.
31. (35) Kenny Wallace, Dodge, 387, $46,800.
32. (33) Kyle Petty, Dodge, 387, $54,675.
33. (39) Casey Mears, Dodge, 386, $55,450.
34. (38) Steve Park, Chevrolet, 386, $54,425.
35. (21) Jamie McMurray, Dodge, 375, $46,300.
36. (28) Ken Schrader, Dodge, 374, accident, $46,255.
37. (11) Michael Waltrip, Chevrolet, 343, engine failure,
$64,200.
38. (32) Dale Jarrett, Ford, 339, $91,923.
39. (30) Ricky Craven, Pontiac, 325, accident, $54,090.
40. (24) Ricky Rudd, Ford, 325, accident, $54,015.
41. (12) Mark Martin, Ford, 239, engine failure, $79,773.
42. (40) Kevin Lepage, Pontiac, 130, engine failure,
$45,860.
43. (43) Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, 127, engine failure,
$45,170.
Average speed of race winner: 111.677 mph.
Time of race: 3 hours, 34 minutes, 44 seconds.
Margin of victory: 1.230 seconds.
Caution flags: 10 for 65 laps.
Lead changes: 14 among 5 drivers.
Lap leaders: R. Newman 1-47; W. Burton 48-77; J. Mayfield
78-169; J. Johnson
170; J. Mayfield 171-173; J. Johnson 174-185; B. Elliott
186-243; J. Mayfield
244; B. Elliott 245-254; J. Johnson 255-319; B. Elliott
320-329; R. Newman 330; B. Elliott 331-368; R. Newman 369;
B. Elliott 370-393
Points
1. Matt Kenseth, 4988
2. Jimmie Johnson, 4762
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 4724
4. Ryan Newman, 4659
5. Jeff Gordon, 4625
6. Kevin Harvick, 4595
7. Tony Stewart, 4398
8. Bobby Labonte, 4197
9. Bill Elliott, 4151
10. Kurt Busch, 4095
11. Terry Labonte, 4039
12. Jeff Burton, 3988
13. Michael Waltrip, 3894
14. Rusty Wallace, 3851
15. Jamie McMurray, 3827
16. Robby Gordon, 3783
17. Mark Martin, 3705
18. Greg Biffle, 3638
19. Sterling Marlin, 3611
20. Jeremy Mayfield, 3581
21. Ward Burton, 3483
22. Ricky Rudd, 3451
23. Elliott Sadler, 3425
24. Joe Nemechek, 3314
25. Johnny Benson, 3283
26. Dale Jarrett, 3273
27. Ricky Craven, 3258
28. Dave Blaney, 3115
29. Jimmy Spencer, 3054
30. Kenny Wallace, 2964
31. Todd Bodine, 2846
32. Steve Park, 2817
33. Tony Raines, 2648
34. Jeff Green, 2613
35. Casey Mears, 2556
36. Ken Schrader, 2451
37. Kyle Petty, 2414
38. John Andretti, 2342
39. Mike Skinner, 1914
40. Jack Sprague, 1284
41. Mike Wallace, 1189
42. Larry Foyt, 1113
43. Christian Fittipaldi, 857
44. Jerry Nadeau, 844
45. Derrike Cope, 822
46. Kevin Lepage, 768
47. Jason Leffler, 764
48. Scott Wimmer, 472
49. Hermie Sadler, 373
50. Johnny Sauter, 356 |
|
Victory Lane
Milwaukee
June 20, 2008
Miami
November 16, 2007
Gateway
September 1, 2007
Bristol
August 22, 2007
Milwaukee
June 22, 2007
Berger
Chevrolet
Check Out
Berlin Raceway
Results
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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 |
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|
September 27th |
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