BENSON’S
FIFTH-PLACE FINISH TOPS AMONG TOYOTAS AT PHOENIX
PHOENIX, Ariz.
(Nov. 5, 2004) -- Johnny Benson, driver of the No. 23 Bill
Davis Racing Tundra, was the top-finishing Toyota driver
in today’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race at
Phoenix International Raceway. Benson crossed the finish
line fifth at the Arizona one-mile oval to record his
fifth top-five finish of the season.
“We started
off the race a little loose, but as we got going my Tundra
was working pretty good,” said Benson, following the race.
“I really thought we had a shot at getting in the
top-three -- or maybe even a win -- but the tires we put
on during the last pit stop hurt us a little bit. They
made the truck really ‘tight.’ But, I’m not going to
complain, because it was a pretty good run and another
top-five.”
Todd Bodine,
driver of the No. 30 Germain/Arnold Racing Tundra, was
running ahead of Benson late in the race and was looking
to record his third win of the season, but he was forced
to the pits while running second with 10 laps remaining.
“Everything went great except we had a miscue on the tires
at the end -- and you can’t race with loose tires,” said
Bodine, after the race. “The tires were coming off at the
end. I knew it as soon as we went to green following the
final caution period. I told Mike (Hillman, crew chief)
that we had a vibration. I didn’t know if it was a tire or
something else. Everything was O.K. when we were running
under green, but as soon as we went to a caution it
loosened up. It’s unfortunate because we really had a
‘rocketship’ today -- my Toyota Tundra was just awesome.”
Following
Benson to the finish line at Phoenix were Tundra drivers
Travis Kvapil (12th), Mike Skinner (17th), Bill Lester
(18th) and David Reutimann (21st). Bodine finished 29th,
after running among the leaders during most of the race.
After 23 2004
races, three Toyota drivers sit among the top-15 in the
NCTS championship point standings. Kvapil is seventh in
the point standings with 2,940 points. Skinner is 13th
(2,793 points) in the standings and David Reutimann is
15th (2,665 points). Reutimann also continues to top the
Rookie-of-the-Year standings.
The next NCTS
race is Friday, November 12, at Darlington Raceway.
Toyota
Finishing Positions @ Phoenix International Raceway
5th Johnny Benson Bill Davis Racing, No. 23 Toyota Tundra
15th Travis Kvapil Bang Racing, No. 24 Line-X Toyota
Tundra
17th Mike Skinner Bill Davis Racing, No. 5 Toyota Tundra
18th Bill Lester Bill Davis Racing, No. 22 Waste
Management Toyota Tundra
21st David Reutimann Darrell Waltrip Motorsports, No. 17
NTN Bearings Toyota Tundra
23rd Hank Parker Jr. Innovative Motorsports, No. 21
AirVest Tundra
29th Todd Bodine Germain/Arnold Racing, No. 30 Germain
Motor Company Toyota Tundra
1st Robert Huffman Innovative Motorsports, No. 12 Toyota
Tundra
Toyota Drivers
in the NCTS Point Standings – following Phoenix
International Raceway
7th Travis Kvapil 2,940 points
13th Mike Skinner 2,793 points
15th David Reutimann 2,665 points
17th Hank Parker Jr. 2,567 points
22nd Bill Lester 2,194 points
23rd Robert Huffman 2,118 points
25th Johnny Benson 1,533 points
27th Todd Bodine 1,214 points
