BENSON DEBUT MARRED BY NINE-CAR CRASH AT DAYTONA
Daytona, Fla. (February 16, 2004)

It certainly wasn't the debut with Team Yellow that Johnny Benson had envisioned.   On lap 11 of the season-opening Hershey's Kisses 300 at Daytona International Speedway, Benson got caught up in a nine-car melee that ended his day. "I saw the 20 car (Mike Bliss) get sideways, and I dove low to try and miss him," said Benson. "But he must have gotten hit by another car, the next thing I know he is coming down the track and into me. I thought I was going to miss it (the multi-car accident)."

The car was severely damaged, and Benson had trouble seeing where he was going. Yet he kept his wits about him as he asked spotter Mark Reno "help me get to the start-finish line. There are a lot of cars involved (in the wreck). If we get credited with another lap, we'll be able to gain some spots."
With Reno acting as his eyes, Benson was able to drive the battered Dodge across the start-finish line. This quick-thinking move under duress allowed Benson to finish 41st.  "We probably picked up a couple of spots (positions) by doing that," said Reno. "That could prove to be big in the race for the (NASCAR Busch Series) championship. That shows you what a smart race driver Johnny is. "Last year, the title was won by 14 points. So every point is important."

Benson said he really thought he was going to have a "good day. I know it was still real early in the race, but the car felt real sporty. I was really hoping to get the season off to a good start with Team Yellow. "I know this was the first race for the people from Fleet Pride to be part of Yellow Racing, and with some of their people here, it would have been nice to have run a lot longer and better for them," added Benson.

Despite the short afternoon for Team Yellow, Fleet Pride CEO Gordon Ulsh was still "thrilled to be working with the Yellow team. We see a lot of value in this program, both from an exposure standpoint as well as a business standpoint. "We see a real value in being a business partner with Yellow Transportation," added Ulsh, "and we are positive this partnership will be well received in the marketplace."

Wally Dallenbach goes spinning into the infield after  making contact with Mike Bliss (left) and Johnny Benson (center). Credit: AP

High expectations for a good finish in the Hershey's Kisses 300 ended on lap 11 when Mike Bliss lost control of his Chevrolet exiting turn two collecting Johnny and the Yellow Transportation Dodge.  Other drivers involved in the wreck included Joe Nemechek, Jason Leffler, Paul Menard, Kasey Kahne, Wally Dallenbach and C.W. Smith. 

The next race for Team Yellow is the Rockingham 200 at North Carolina Speedway on Feb. 21. "With the success Team Yellow has had at Rockingham, I can't wait to get there," says Benson.

Yellow Racing was in victory lane for both races at North Carolina Speedway last year with driver Jamie McMurray