Berlin Raceway Champions
The 2004 season at Berlin Raceway has come to an end.  The JBFC would like to congratulate the champions in the following divisions:  Joe Bush - Late Models, Brian Wiersma - Super Stock and Terry VanHaitsma - Sportsman.  (09-27-04)

Top 5 Finish in Las Vegas!
Congratulations to Johnny, Greg Ely and the entire #23 Bill Davis Racing Team for their fourth place finish in Las Vegas.  Even as the sun set for the start of the race, the temperature registered at 90 degrees with a 17% humidity.  Johnny patiently moved through the field with his first pit stop for tires at Lap 22 and another pit stop at Lap 80.  During the closing laps, Johnny was slipping and sliding and put on a good battle with Mike Skinner.  Shane Hmiel used fresh tires to his advantage to earn his first win.  (09-26-04)      

Get Well Soon Grandpa Benson!!!!

We hope you are feeling better after your shoulder surgery.  Please rest and listen to your doctor!

Johnny Qualifies 26th in New Hampshire
Johnny Benson, No. 23 Toyota Quote: “Qualifying was a lot better than the rest of our day. We struggled a bit in practice this morning, and we’re just trying to catch up a little bit. We made some major changes before qualifying, just trying to catch up to the track. Greg (Ely, crew chief) and the guys are trying to get the truck the way I like it -- to feel the way I like it to feel. If we were the way we were in practice during the race, it would be a long, long race. And, we would definitely be in trouble. But, I’m a little more optimistic after all the changes, and we’ll just have to make the adjustments we need tomorrow during the race.”   (Thanks, SoCalFan)    (09-19-04)

Congratulations!
To Susan Flanagan of Quebec, Canada who won the “Race to the Chase” Message Board Contest that was held on johnnybenson.com. She correctly guessed the ten drivers who would make the chase for the championship. She is the lucky winner of a 2003 1:24 JB / Valvoline Team Caliber car. Awesome job, Sue!    (09-19-04)

The #23 crew hard at work

Inside Nextel Cup
Hosted by Allen Bestwick, the original panel includes Waltrip and fellow NASCAR drivers Johnny Benson and Ken Schrader, with Jimmy Spencer and Kenny Wallace often filling empty seats. Started in 1996, Inside NEXTEL Cup missed only one season -- 2001 when NASCAR signed its most recent TV deal. And even in that off year, the foursome congregated at Schrader's race shop for a reunion special. Features weekly recaps and analysis of Nextel Cup racing action. From the pits to victory lane, Inside Nextel Cup [Old Info there] provides up-to-date coverage of all the important developments on the Nextel Cup circuit. Inside NEXTEL Cup now has more than 500,000 weekly viewers, with more than 300,000 tuning in for Monday premieres -- a 30 percent increase from 2003. Inside NEXTEL Cup producer Harry Cogan, who has missed only one show in nine years.  The show airs on SPEED Channel Mondays at 7:00pm/et and normally re-airs on Monday at 11:00pm/et and on Tuesdays at 3:00pm/et.   (9-13-2004)

JB's Truck Series Fact
Did you know that Johnny has been running at the finish in 15 of his 16 career CTS starts?  Pretty good stats!  (09-07-04)

John Sr, Phil Parsons and JB at IRP

SHOP TALK - Johnny Benson Sr.
by Brian Nelson

Many of today’s racing fans know well the story of Berlin’s favorite son, Johnny Benson, Jr.   A few die hard Berlin disciples may even remember his track championship from 1989.  What most fans do not know is the story of the man who may be responsible for Johnny’s success - his father Johnny Benson Sr. 

As I prepared to interview the Berlin Raceway legend and current Late Model team owner, his crew warned me to have my questions ready and added “John doesn’t say much.”  But upon my visit to the elder Benson’s home on Grand Rapids’ northeast side, I found John Benson was ready to journey through his scrapbook of stories.  

Johnny Benson never watched a race until he became a race-car driver in 1956.  “I had this 1932 Ford pickup truck that I was making a hot rod out of,” he remembers.  “A friend of mine wanted that truck so bad he could taste it.  He finally offered to trade me an old Hudson stock car he had for it.  At the time it seemed like a pretty good deal, so I traded it to him and got the stock car.”   Complete Story  (09-02-04)


Testing at Chicagoland
Johnny and the #23 Bill Davis Racing team spent time testing with their Toyota Tundra at Chicagoland Speedway this week.  Johnny felt the testing went very well and what they learned could be applied to upcoming super speedway tracks they will be competing at on the Craftsman Truck schedule.   (09-02-04)