GATEWAY:  ANOTHER NEW CHALLENGE FOR BENSON

One of the biggest reasons why Johnny Benson likes going to a new race track is the challenge of finding the fastest way around that facility.   And when the speedway is “odd-shaped,” that challenge is even greater.

           
And after a one-day test session at Gateway International Raceway, Benson can’t wait for Saturday and his first “real” shot at unlocking the key to the quickest way around the 1.25-mile track.

When the green flag is waved for the Charter 250 at 8 p.m. (EDT) Saturday, it will be Benson’s first start at Gateway.   FX will televise the NASCAR Busch Series live with the broadcast starting at 7:30 p.m.   

           
“It is an interesting race track for sure,” says Benson.   “It is very different from what we normally race on including having to shift.   That is certainly odd on a circle track.  Both ends of the track are different,” adds the driver of the Yellow Transportation Dodge.   Turns one and two are a lot tighter than three and four.  It is just different.  But that is fine with me. That is what makes it fun.   That is what makes it a challenge.  I really like it when we go to tracks that are different.”

           
While Benson is looking forward to trying to master the driving aspect of racing at Gateway, Team Yellow crew chief Jon Wolfe has the job of trying to find the right chassis setup for the track.

           
“It is a little odd-shaped, egg-shaped like Darlington,” points out Wolfe.   “It definitely has distinctly different corners.   It is hard to get a setup for both corners.  With this being a one-day show, there is not an over abundance of time to practice.  Normally, when you practice on one day and then race on the next, you can go back to the room and think about things and come back the next day and make changes for the race. But we won’t have that chance at Gateway.   That is why we went all the way out there to test.

           
 “We wanted to give Johnny some seat time, and we wanted to work on our shifting ratio,” adds Wolfe.   “We didn’t shift up there last year with David (Stremme).   We felt like with David being a rookie and that he had never done any shifting that we didn’t want to put any more on him with that being his first race at the track.  We ran okay, but it did hurt us.”

With Benson’s experience behind the wheel, Wolfe believes the Yellow Transportation team has an excellent chance to run real well on Saturday.   “The test was a big help to Johnny, and we learned a lot of things that will help Team Yellow when we go back,” says Wolfe.

 “One of the biggest things we learned is that the car we had out there wasn’t to Johnny’s liking.   So we are taking another car when we go back.   We are taking the car we ran at Darlington.  Everywhere we’ve run that car this year we’ve run well.  So I feel good about how the Yellow team is going to do at Gateway.”

So does Benson and his opportunity to win a race at a new race track.