LATE-RACE WRECK ENDS BENSON'S VICTORY HOPES

"I thought I was going to get us one (a victory)," said Johnny Benson Saturday, "but the final couple of laps just didn't go like we thought they would."

Benson was part of a four-car battle for the win in the Pepsi 300 Saturday at Nashville Speedway as the front foursome received the two laps to go signal.
      
Rookies Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer were running side-by-side in a duel for the top spot with Benson and Robby Gordon running side-by-side only a car length behind the front duo.  As the foursome raced off turn two, Bowyer and Busch got together with Busch turning sideways.   This forced Bowyer to slow.  "When he did, I got into the back of him," said Benson.  "I still thought I was going to get through (the accident), but then someone (Gordon) hit me and I was spinning too."

Benson was able to get the No. 1 Dodge straightened out and drove back onto the track as the yellow and white flags were being waved.  Benson was credited with finishing seventh.

Benson, who led once for nine laps, thought the fifth yellow flag was going to be a lucky one for him and the Yellow team. "I had just told Wolfie (crew chief Jon Wolfe) that the tires were gone, and I was afraid one of them was going to blow out," said Benson.  "Then a couple of laps later, the yellow comes out (when part of Gordon's right rear tire came apart).  With four new tires, I really thought we had a great chance to win the race," added Benson.
      
When the green flag came back out with five laps to, Benson was running fifth.   Two laps later, he was third.   "I thought I could get around both the 21 car (Bowyer) and 5 car (Busch)," said Benson.  "But then they got side-by-side, and it slowed me enough for the 55 car (Gordon) to get outside of me.  I still thought the Yellow team had a great shot at getting in victory lane.
      
 "Then they (Bowyer and Busch) got to beating on each other, and we all ended up in a wreck."   The fourth top-10 finish of the year for the Yellow team vaulted Benson into tenth place in the race for the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series championship. 

The next race for the Yellow team is the Aaron's 312 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 24.