A Fan's Perspective - Martinsville
Special thanks to Cliff for sharing his experience at the Martinsville Truck race with JB Fans ... We appreciate all your hard work!

It was a great day for a race....not to hot and not to cold. There was a lot of people there which surprised me.  Before the race started, they parked the trucks next to the wall. I went down to where Johnny's truck was it see if I might get to talk to him some. Barb showed up after I was there for a few minutes. We sat and talked while we waited for Johnny to come over to his truck. No, Barb I won't say any thing about Todd Bodine {Hehee....wink...wink}.
(Note:  Johnny and Todd have similar driving suits, so I thought it was Johnny heading towards his truck. I made a mistake!)

Johnny finally went to his truck and we all said hi to him. He was in a really good mood. He was joking around with one of the crew members and was all smiles. They put cameras on Johnny's truck for the race and I guess they where testing them because the one on the back of the truck started moving. When it pointed to Johnny , he started hamming it up for the camera....he was too funny!

Johnny started the race in 23rd, but fell back to 25th at the start. Which was the lowest he was all day. After the 1st caution he was back to 23rd. On lap 24 he reported that his truck was acting like it was tight and it didn't have any side bite.....no grip anywhere. They tried to fix it with air pressure and a track bar adjustment.

While truck #75 lost his brakes and hit the wall in front of Johnny, he said that it sounded like the throttle stuck and that he was glad that he wasn't on the outside of the 75 still.  Johnny did some great driving to miss a few of the wrecks and only got into one truck while others where wrecking around him.
 
The truck started to come in for him right before his last pit stop, which was Johnny idea to come in ..he thought some more would pit also.... but none did. After that pit stop Johnny was told to not worry about saving the truck ,cause they aren't going to use that truck anymore.  All in all Johnny and the crew did a wonderful job to finish in 11th with the truck they had. A job well done guys
Cliff aka ancsandman

Condolences to the Rick Hendrick Family and Organization
Johnny and the JBFC would like to send out their deepest condolences to the entire Rick Hendrick Family and their racing organization.  It's a sad day for the NASCAR community. 

The son of NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick was among 10 people killed Sunday when a small plane headed from Concord to Martinsville crashed in Patrick County in Virginia. Ricky Hendrick, a former NASCAR driver, died in the incident. John Hendrick, Rick's brother, and Kimberly and Jennifer Hendrick, John's twin daughters, also died in the crash. The plane, which belonged to Hendrick Motorsports, was en route to Martinsville Speedway for Sunday's Subway 500.  The plane reportedly lost contact with the Federal Aviation Administration at about 12:30 p.m. It crashed in the Blue Ridge Mountains about seven miles from Martinsville, Va., according to the N.C. Highway Patrol. The names of the other people who died in the crash are: Dick Tracey, pilot, Liz Morrison, pilot, Joe Jackson, Jeff Turner, the VP and General Manager of Hendrick Motorsports, Randy Dorton and Scott Latham.  (10-24-04)

Johnny's Comments After Martinsville
 “We struggled all day long. So, to come out here and finish 11th is pretty good. We tried to find out why we were not that great today. It was a struggle today and a long day for us. We just didn’t have any grip. We’ve struggled on the short tracks this year. I think we’re making progress, but we’re not quite where we need to be on the short tracks, although we’re working hard to get there. We made it through the day without any real damage, which is good -- although I’d rather have damage and finish higher.”   (10-24-04)

 

Qualifying Rained Out in Martinsville
Johnny's strong finishes in the #23 Toyota Tundra benefited the team in Martinsville when qualifying was rained out.  It allowed him to secure the 22nd  starting position in the field of 36 trucks.  (10-24-04)

Congratulations! 

To Johnny and the #23 Bill Davis Racing Team.  They won the McDonalds Powerade Pit Championship Award for their performance in Texas.  (10-24-04) 

Q & A with Johnny

JB fans who post on the JBFC message board submitted questions for Johnny this summer.  This is the last installation of the question and answer session.  Thank you to all who participated.  Click here to view   (10-21-04)
 

Truck Garage Gets Crowded in Martinsville
Looks like the Craftsman Truck Series garage is going to be a little crowded at Martinsville Speedway this weekend.  The current roster of drivers will be joined by Bobby Labonte, Ken Schrader, Darrell Waltrip, Jamie McMurray, Bobby Hamilton Jr. and Tony Raines.  (10-20-04)

Johnny Finishes 2nd in Texas
It was a successful day in Texas for Johnny, Greg Ely and the entire #23 Bill Davis Racing team.  A strong set-up and consistent pit stops kept them in the hunt for their best finish of 2004. 

The trucks were impounded after qualifying.  It did not matter to Johnny that the teams did not have a happy hour practice.  The two practice sessions in the morning allowed the #23 team enough time to find the right set-up for the race.  Johnny felt the truck was running good enough to be competitive.  

During the first 50 laps, Johnny ran strong in the top five.  The first pit stop came on lap 54 for four tires and a wedge adjustment.  Their final pit stop came on lap 98 - Johnny came in 3rd and went out 4th.  The race was red flagged due to a violent crash between Bill Lester and David Reutimann.  During the break, Phil Parsons radioed Johnny from the broadcast booth.  They discussed the driver's condition, safer barriers and his performance in the #23 Toyota. 

The race got back under way and Johnny was in 2nd by lap 115.  He struggled through the corners and had aero handling problems in the dirty air.  At the drop of the checkered flag - it was a two truck Toyota finish.  Todd Bodine won followed by Johnny, Bobby Hamilton, David Starr and Jack Sprague.  (10-17-04) 
 

Bodine Wins In Texas
Todd Bodine in the No. 30 Germain/Arnold Racing Toyota Tundra strikes gold again. Black Gold this time, Texas Tea, as Bodine wins the Silverado 350K at Texas Motor Speedway.  Starting 22nd on the grid, Bodine powered his way through the field taking over 5th place by lap 25. After a series of caution periods and a swift pit stop by the Germain/Arnold Racing crew, Bodine took the lead from Mike Skinner on lap 67. After another caution flag stop on lap 98, Bodine exited the pits in 3rd place behind race leader Mike Skinner and Carl Edwards.

By winning their second race in a row, Bodine and Germain/Arnold Racing claimed Toyota's 4th victory in their inaugural season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Bodine led 71 laps of the race with Toyota driver Johnny Benson finishing second.

Johnny's comments:  "The run wasn't too bad.  It was good enough for 2nd.  Todd Bodine was really good.  I could not catch him and I do not know if I had enough to pass him.  We are happy with how things went.  The Toyota engine ran great.  I have to thank everyone involved, what a great series."  (10-16-04)
 

Johnny Qualifies 7th in Texas
Texas Motor Speedway is a 1.5 mile quad oval with 24 degree banking in the turns.  The 146 lap race translates into 219 miles and 350 kilometers.  Crew Chief Greg Ely, Johnny and the entire #23 Bill Davis Racing team quietly made their presence known here.  

During the first practice session after running a total of 12 laps, Johnny was 19th fastest with a time of 29.968 at a speed of 180.192 miles per hour.  During the second practice session they ran a total of 21 laps.  Johnny moved up the practice sheet in 10th place.  He clocked in a time of 29.626 at a speed of 181.659 miles per hour.

Johnny was the 21st truck to qualify and drove his #23 Toyota Tundra around the Texas Motor Speedway to a time of 29.761 at a speed of 181.446.  Although his time was a little slower than in the second practice session, it was good enough for 7th place.  Team mate Mike Skinner earned the pole and broke the track record with a time of 29.642 at a speed of 183.174 miles per hour.  However, Skinner will have to start from the rear of the field due to an engine change.  This will move Johnny's other team mate, Bill Lester to the front starting spot and Johnny into 5th since the inside line will move up.

Get Well Soon, Allen

Allen Bestwick continues to be on the mend with his broken leg.  He is unable to make the trip to Charlotte, North Carolina this week.  He will not be on Inside Nextel Cup show taped on Monday, October 11th.  (10-10-04)

Congratulations, Gary! 

The JBFC would like to send out a congratulations to Gary Putnam, crew chief for Joe Nemechek #87 Busch car.  This was Gary's first NASCAR win as a crew chief.  Gary worked with Johnny during the Pennzoil and Valvoline years.  (10-10-04)

Did you know?
There has been 95 drivers to enter a Craftsman Truck Series race in the 2004 season.  As of the California race, Johnny ranks 26th in the driver point standings.  The #23 Bill Davis Racing team Owner points are even better as they sit in the 23rd position and are in reach of knocking off a few more positions!  (10-06-04)
 

A JB Fan's Perspective of California CTS Race
The JBFC would like to send out a big thank you to Ray Patten for his race report.  It sounds like you captured quite a bit and had fun! 

Johnny and the team came very well prepared for the California race.  First practice, only two runs of 2 laps each to get ready for qualifying. At the end of the first practice Johnny was 5^th fastest.  Greg Ely (Crew Chief) gave the crew and the shop guys a lot of praise for the preparations.  Of course you all know about the qualifying results, Johnny was 10^th.  Good job Johnny and the entire #23 team.

  Photo By:   Ray Patten

During Happy Hour Johnny complained about a little vibration. He mentioned that he was good entering and coming out of the turns but was a little tight in the center. The team made some adjustments and Johnny went back out. Greg noticed that Johnny’s speed was falling off too much after each lap and that they needed to work on that for the long runs.  

The race was a night race with the temperatures falling off real fast. Practice and qualifying were run with temperatures about 10 degrees warmer then at the start of race.  One of the cars in front of Johnny had to go to the back for making an engine change so Johnny started in 8^th position.

Early in the race Johnny said the car was real bad so he and Greg decided on the first pit to make a track bar and air pressure adjustment but no tires because the first Yellow flag came on lap 10.  Back under green and Johnny said the car was better after the adjustments but was complaining about oil all over his windshield.  On lap 27 another yellow and Johnny got 4 new tires. Still complaining about oil on his windshield and on the track between turns 1 and 2.  Back under green, Greg Ely said “Good job Bud” to Johnny numerous times during the race.

Johnny said I am getting real loose I need more of the same adjustments I got the first time. Johnny still complaining about oil on his windshield, Greg was lobbying real hard with officials to get an extra man over the wall to clean it off but I don’t think they got what they wanted. So, on the last stop they had to make adjustments, 4 tires, clean the windshield and fill up with gas. Johnny thanked the crew for getting all that done without losing too much time.

Johnny’s pit stall was before the start finish line so every time he came in to the pits several cars that were behind him went ahead of him in scoring just for that lap, next time around it all worked out because he would be back in front of them.

The last 40 laps of the race Johnny’s car was the best it was all night, you can also tell because other than the fact that you see him moving up in scoring, there is very little scanner talk, just the spotter, also many more “Good Job Bud” to Johnny during the last 40 laps.  The team had a very good result despite the oil on the windshield and missing the set-up for the start of the race.  Johnny and Greg had good communications and were able to adjust the car to bring them back to a good finishing position.  (10-04-04) 

Motorcycle Ride to Benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp: Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Richard Petty Driving Experience, Victory Junction Gang Camp and NASCAR have joined forces for a charity motorcycle ride Charlotte race weekend to benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The one-day ride on Sunday, Oct. 17 – the day following the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series’ UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. -- will feature veteran NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Kyle Petty and other NASCAR celebrities. The “Ride to Victory II” will travel from Lowe’s Motor Speedway to the Petty Museum in Randleman, N.C., where riders will have a “meet-and-greet” opportunity with legendary seven-time series champion Richard Petty as well as tour the museum. The ride will conclude at the Victory Junction Gang Camp with a tour of the facility, lunch and an auction. The ride is $50 per person and includes a commemorative T-shirt, pin, goody bag and lunch at the camp. Pre-registration is taking place until Wednesday, Oct. 13, and available either online at www.kylepettycharityride.com or by calling (704) 714-4545. Several NASCAR sponsors and licensees are sponsoring this year’s Ride to Victory, including Coca-Cola, Checkered Flag, WinCraft and NASCAR Scene.  (NASCAR PR)  (09-29-2004)

Another Top Ten Finish for #23 BDR in California
Johnny and the #23 Bill Davis Racing team persevered at the California Speedway on Saturday night.  Johnny stayed out of trouble while dodging problems on the track.  The #23 Toyota Tundra was good on long runs and the frequent cautions caused havoc with their plan.   The #23 team performed pit stops three times during the 100 lap event.  At the checkered flag, Johnny crossed the line in 7th place.   This was their 5th top ten finish in 8 starts.  Todd Bodine earned the win.  (10-03-04)  Note:  Check back for more details.  Fan Club Member, Ray Patten promises to give us a report from California since he was there in person!
 

Waltrip to Sub for Bestwick
The "organized chaos" of SPEED Channel's Inside Nextel Cup (Mondays at 7:00pm/et) loses the "organized" part of the show this week as NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip takes Allen Bestwick's host chair while Bestwick recovers from a broken leg. This week's panel will include Kenny Wallace, Johnny Benson and Jimmy Spencer reviewing the weekend's racing action from Talladega.  (SC PR - 10-2-2004)

Johnny to Start 10th in California

During the practice session, Johnny turned in a time of 40.759 at a speed of 176.648 miles per hour which placed him 5th fastest.  Notes from the Craftsman Truck Series website indicated that several truck teams worked on their race set-ups during the practice sessions.

Johnny was the 34th truck to qualify.  His time of 40.862 at a speed of 176.203 was good enough for the 10th starting position.  This is Johnny's best starting position in the truck series this year.  The JBFC would like to thank crew chief, Greg Ely and the entire #23 Toyota Tundra Racing team for all their hard work.

Travis Kvapil earned the pole position turning in a time of 40.298 at a speed of 178.669.  Only 36 trucks qualified for this event.   (10-02-04)

Get Well Soon, Allen

The JBFC would like to send out best wishes for a speedy recovery to Inside Nextel Cup announcer, Allen Bestwick. Bestwick broke his leg Wednesday night during a hockey game near his home in Coventry, Rhode Island.
(09-30-04)

Toyota Promotes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month At the Las Vegas event, the #30 Germain/Arnold Racing team and Toyota Racing Development worked together to promote October as breast cancer awareness month. In collaboration with the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) program, NBCAM's logo and pink ribbon, was displayed prominently on the #30 Toyota at the Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 25.

"Given the growing popularity of NASCAR with women, the Germain/Arnold Racing team is proud play a role in raising awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection "stated team co-owner Don Arnold.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and one in eight women will develop it in her lifetime. In 2004, an estimated 1,450 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the most recent data, breast cancer death rates in women declined by 2.3 percent per year during 1990-2000 . Significant progress in mammography technology is helping physicians to diagnose the disease earlier and new treatment options are providing more comfortable treatments and improved outcomes. "It is important for all women age 40 and above to get a mammogram annually and to take charge of their breast health," said Susan Nathanson, National Coordinator for NBCAM.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer through a nationwide campaign. The NBCAM Board of Sponsors is comprised of 16 national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working in partnership to raise awareness and provide access to breast cancer screening services. This year marks 20 years of NBCAM, which is dedicated to educating women about breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment. Since its inception, NBCAM has been funded by an unrestricted educational grant from AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation.

The JBFC salutes Toyota and Germain/Arnold Racing for their efforts to get the message out to the fans in the racing community.  One of JB's strongest supporters, Cathy Rottman is a survivor.  (09-30-04)