|
DECEMBER NEWS
Sports Overtime
Johnny will be making a live
appearance on the Sports Overtime Show on WOOD TV 8 on
Sunday, December 26th at 11:30 pm. Johnny makes
time in his holiday schedule to sit down with Jason
Tierzes to discuss racing on the NASCAR and Berlin
Raceway levels. Sports Overtime is accepting email
questions from Johnny's fan. You may email your
questions to them at
sportsovertime@woodtv.com
(Note: Last year, the show
included several questions from across the US, so you have
a good chance of getting your question submitted. I
hope to capture the interview in order to post the
question and answer session. Barb)
To JB
Fans
Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year!
From Katelyn, Mikayla, and Aunt Barb
Wind Tunnel to Sunday Night Only
SPEED Channel is making
several changes to its popular call-in show Wind Tunnel with
Dave Despain for the 2005 race season. Beginning in
February, Wind Tunnel will be expanded to two hours,
anchoring the Sunday night Prime Time lineup at 9:00pm/et.
"We want to hear from the fans when they're still excited,
still angry and still eager to talk about what they've just
watched," said Rick Miner, SPEED Channel's Sr. VP of
Programming/Production and Executive Producer. "It's no
secret that the only thing more passionate than a race fan
is a race fan on race day. "In addition, we'd like to get
Dave out from behind the desk during the week, letting him
expand on opportunities to do exclusive SPEED Channel
interviews with some of the biggest names in racing," Miner
added. "Wind Tunnel originally was designed as a show for
the fans and we believe this new format will allow us to be
even more aggressive in that mission." The new format will
include the show's traditional long-form interviews, along
with multiple short-form interviews via phone, satellite and
in-studio guest appearances. "I really like the idea of a
Sunday night show," said Despain, who recently inked a
three-year contract extension with SPEED Channel. "We'll
talk to the fans while they're still fired up from the
racing weekend, and talk to the newsmakers while the news is
still hot. Add the fact that the two-hour format will enable
us to do a lot of things we simply didn't have time for in
the past, and I think it will be a lot of fun." Wind Tunnel
with Dave Despain will hit original episode #250 early next
season. (12-20-04)
Track Review - Daytona
One of the features on
johnnybenson.com is an listing of NASCAR tracks and their
phone numbers for ticket information. In 2005, I
would like to expand that listing to include track and
travel information from you - the JB fans. This
week's track review is Daytona International Speedway.
If you would like to share your tips with other JB fans,
you may email send an email to
support@johnnybenson.com or post your response on the
JBFC message board. Thank you for your
participation! (12-20-04)
Request Foods, Sara Lee and GFS Marketplace
Named Title Sponsors for 2005 ARCA Event at Berlin
Berlin Raceway is proud to announce a
partnership with Request Foods, Sara Lee and GFS
Marketplace for the July 16 ARCA RE/MAX race. The event
will be called the Request/Sara Lee ARCA 200 presented by
GFS Marketplace.
Mike Strevel, Berlin's Director of Race Operations, said
the sponsorship was instrumental bringing back ARCA to
Berlin in 2005 and in holding ticket prices down for the
fans. "I'm excited that Berlin was able to secure
involvement from these prestigious companies for this
event," Strevel said. "Without this sponsorship, ticket
prices would have been too high for most fans, and we may
have lost this great event. Now we're able to hold the
ticket prices to the same price as last year ($20 in
advance and $25 on the day of the race). I'm also very
excited that we were able to secure a mid-July date, which
will make it easier for fans to fit into their schedule
than last year's 4th of July holiday weekend date."
ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) is a touring
series known as the most versatile stock car touring
series on earth. The stock cars race on all types of
tracks and surfaces, from superspeedways such as Daytona
to short tracks such as Berlin Raceway to dirt tracks and
street and road courses.
Tickets for the ARCA race are $20 in
advance and $25 on the day of the race. Pit passes are $30
(16 and older; available day of race only). Children 3 to
12 are half price and 2 and under are free. Advance
tickets will go on sale in the spring. For more ticket
information please call Berlin Raceway at
(616) 677-5000. (12-15-04)
Sprint and Nextel
Merger
NASCAR said today its top series
will continue to be called the Nextel Cup next year even
though Nextel and Sprint today announced a merger that
will see the company renamed Sprint Nextel. Gary D. Forsee,
the president and chief executive officer of the new
company, also said the Nextel Cup name would remain for
2005 but told a morning press conference that Sprint
Nextel would "work with the appropriate branding for
[NASCAR] in the future," according to a transcript posted
by foxsports.com. NASCAR Chairman Brian France said the
sanctioning body's sponsorship agreement, which is
reported to be worth $750 over 10 years, isn't affected by
the deal. "NASCAR's 10-year agreement remains in place,
and all of NASCAR is looking forward to great success in
the years to come," he said in a statement. The two
national wireless communications companies are joining
forces in a merger valued at more than $35 billion.
(12-15-04)
#23 Busch Series Team Closed
Bill Davis Racing has closed its No.
23 Busch Series team, the High Point (N.C.) Enterprise
reports. The story says team owner Bill Davis made the
decision after driver Kenny Wallace left and took primary
sponsor Stacker2 with him. The story also says Davis'
legal battle with Dodge parent Daimler-Chrysler, which
sued Davis after he began working with Toyota on its
Craftsman Truck Series program in 2003, is now scheduled
to begin next May in federal district court in Detroit.
(12-14-04)
MIS Adding Club Seats
Michigan International Speedway President
Brett Shelton has announced the addition of a club-level
seating area that will include 870 new outdoor club
grandstand seats as well as an indoor entertainment area
called the Champions Club. The new area will raise the
seating capacity at the facility to 137,243, making the
track the eighth largest motorsports venue on the 2005
Nextel Cup Series schedule. The new area will feature wide
seats with cup holders, in-seat service and an indoor
air-conditioned hospitality area with private restrooms.
(12-14-04)
2005 NASCAR Schedules
Dear JB
Fans: I have completed updating the 2005 race
schedule on the front page of johnnybenson.com. on the
right side columns. (I have even figured out how to add
the truck series schedule too!)
Last year, I compiled multiple series in date order on the
"schedule" located with the rest of the link. This listing
also included Johnny's qualification / finishing positions
and television broadcast stations.
I'm looking for feedback. Do you look at that combined
schedule page? Do you find the information to be useful?
Please let me know. You can either post your opinion on
the JBFC Message board or send an email with your
suggestions to
support@johnnybenson.com.
Thank you for your feedback!
Barb
(12-13-04)
Craftsman Truck
Series - A Year in Review
SPEED Channel will air the
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Year in Racing special
Friday at 9 p.m., ET. SPEED's Rick Allen will
host the program with highlights from all 25 races of the
2004 season. Several of the top stars of the series,
including Bobby Hamilton, Dennis Setzer and Carl Edwards
will be featured throughout the show.
SPEED Channel is the nation's first and foremost cable
network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for
everything automotive. From racing to restoration,
motorcycles to movies, SPEED Channel delivers quality
programming from the track to the garage. Now available in
more than 68 million homes in North America, SPEED Channel
is among the fastest growing sports cable networks in the
country.
*Dec 17th 9:00 - 10:00 pm
*Dec 18th 1:00 - 2:00 am
*Dec 18th 12:00 - 1:00 pm
*Dec 19th 4:00 - 5:00 am
(Thanks to JB Fan, Ray Patten for
compiling the tv info! 12-13-04)
Bill Davis Racing Honors Fletcher
Lord
Mike Brown, General Manager,
awarded Fletcher Lord with a handwritten letter
detailing the gratitude the organization has for his
efforts at Bill Davis Racing. Lord, who has been with
the organization since 1999, currently serves as the
Team Manager for the Busch and Truck operations. Brown
had this to say about Lord, "Fletcher has really
stepped up this year, with the addition of our Truck
teams, he took on an added responsibility. All in all,
he's just a good person".
(12-13-04)
SPEED Channel Gets High Marks from
Viewers
More Cable Subscribers Aged 18-49 and More Men call SPEED
Channel One of their Five Favorite Networks than any other
Cable Service. Viewers responding to Beta Research's
new Evaluation of Basic Cable study released today ranked
Fox Cable Networks' SPEED Channel and National Geographic
Channel tops among mid-sized networks in program quality,
customer satisfaction and contribution to their enjoyment
of cable service as a whole.
More cable subscribers between the ages of 18 and 49
and more men ranked SPEED Channel as one of their five
favorite cable networks than any other mid-sized service.
More viewers said they were aware of National Geographic
Channel and had watched its programming during the past 12
months than responded as favorably to any other mid-sized
network. National Geographic Channel and SPEED Channel
were also viewers' top choices among the networks on
perceived value, according to the new Beta results.
National Geographic Channel debuted to 10 million Nielsen
homes in January 2001 and has since grown to serve 53
million homes, making it one of the fastest-growing networks
in cable history. SPEED Channel has likewise ballooned to
more than 63 million subscribers compared to 47 million when
Fox Cable Networks launched the new version of the service
(formerly SpeedVision) in February 2002.
Cable system executives participating in Beta's most
recent Evaluation of Cable Operators study (2003) similarly
singled out National Geographic Channel and SPEED Channel as
the two mid-sized networks with programming most conducive
to generating local advertising sales.
(Truck Series.com report
12-07-04)
Season Review: Johnny Benson
2004 was a season of
transition for Johnny Benson. Based on how his season
ended, one has to conclude that it was successful. Nobody,
however, thought it would unfold the way it did.
Benson was released from the #10 Cup team at the end of
2003, and for a time, his future looked uncertain. Johnny
ended up with James Finch and the #1 Busch car, with a
companion ride available in Finch's #09 Cup car. At first,
it appeared that Benson had an inroad back to Nextel Cup,
but the financial backing for the 09 wasn't there. Johnny
ran just four Cup races, with a top finish of just 27th in
the Daytona 500.
Benson's Busch season started much better than that.
Johnny took the pole at Rockingham, his first in the Busch
Series, and in the season's first seven events, he racked
up two front row starts and four Top Ten finishes. After
that, the bottom fell out of Finch's program, and he and
Benson parted company just three races later.
Not long after that, hopes were raised for Benson's return
to Cup when he tested a second PPI Chevrolet for Cal
Wells, but the team never materialized. At mid-season,
Johnny maintained a high profile via his weekly
appearances on Inside Nextel Cup, but his driving career
was in limbo.
Enter Bill Davis, who gave Benson the #23 Toyota ride in
the Craftsman Truck Series at Michigan on July 31. Johnny,
who had not competed in the CTS since 1997, responded with
a fourth-place finish after starting 31st. Benson would
stay in the 23 truck for the remainder of the year,
posting 5 Top Fives and 8 Top Tens, and finishing 25th in
the season point standings despite missing the first
twelve races. Johnny also finished second to Steve Park in
the CTS Most Popular Driver vote.
Other than a few events at his own Berlin Raceway, Johnny
Benson's 2005 driving plans have not yet been announced.
Should he stay in the #23 truck, it's not unreasonable to
expect that he'll be in contention for a championship next
year. (Written
by Dave Laurence - racingunderdog,com)
(12-06-04)
December Newsletter / Renewal Form
The 2004 December newsletter
will be mailed from Michigan on Thursday, December 9th.
Included in this mailing will be your 2005 Renewal Form.
Thank you for your patience as we wrap up the 2004 season!
(12-06-04)
Berlin's 2005 Season Packed With Excitement
Berlin Raceway's 2005
schedule, announced today, is packed with excitement for
everyone, from the weekly racing series to the prestigious
ARCA series to first-time appearances by the MSA
Supermodifieds and the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Midgets.
The 2005 season begins on April 16 and runs through
September 24. Included in the 25 nights of racing are the
two annual Wednesday specials, the Berlin 100 presented by
Meijer and Tony's Pizza on June 15 and "The Chet"
presented by Comerica on August 17. These races are
100-lap Coors Light Late Model features with Grand Rapids
star Johnny Benson and a NASCAR driver TBD
scheduled to race in each. All other race dates are on
Saturdays.
The ARCA 200 (www.arcaracing.com) will return on July 16
for a race that promises to feature the NASCAR Nextel Cup
stars of tomorrow. The up-and-coming CRA Super Series
(formerly Sunoco Super Series), a Midwestern touring
series for stock-appearing Late Model cars, returns for
the third straight year and is scheduled to run twice
(June 18 and August 20) due to its popularity. Last year's
Sunoco Super Series event at Berlin was a sweep for local
drivers, as Berlin regulars Fred Campbell, Brian Campbell
and Tom Thomas finished 1-2-3 in the 150-lap feature.
The Vintage Racing Organization of America, a racing
series based in West Michigan and Northern Indiana that
features cars built with pre-1949 steel bodies made in
North America, rounds out the roster of traveling series
with a return visit on July 30, the 55th Anniversary
Night. Also appearing on that night will be local legend
Johnny Benson, scheduled to race in the Coors Light
Late Model feature. Benson will again race three
times at Berlin in 2005.
Complete PR
(11-30-04)
Speed Channel Lineup
Allen Bestwick announced that
"Inside Nextel Cup" will return with their expert panel
for the 2005 season. Thank you to all the JB fans
who tune into this weekly show. It makes a
difference! Especially, since they have eliminated
some shows. Look for their return around the Daytona
race. (11-29-04)
By the Numbers: 2004
Busch Series
Two drivers racing the full
season for the first time left all the veterans behind in
the race for the Busch Series championship. The
series' 23rd season was most special for Martin Truex Jr.,
who followed in the footsteps of his team co-owner Dale
Earnhardt Jr. by winning his first Busch Series title the
first season he attempted it.
In 2004, per NASCAR.com
Truex was only one of many who contributed to the latest
chapter in the Busch Series' statistical legacy.
Johnny contributed to these stats as a first time pole
winner.
Complete PR
(11-28-04)
By the Numbers: 2004
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series celebrated its 10th season in 2004. The year was
especially significant because it marked the entrance of
Toyota into NASCAR's national touring arena.
But the season was most special for
Bobby Hamilton, who became the first owner-driver to win a
NASCAR national touring series championship since the late
Alan Kulwicki won NASCAR's top series in 1992.
Hamilton was only one man who contributed to the latest
chapter in the Craftsman Truck Series' statistical legacy,
in 2004.
Check out this story from NASCAR.com. They have
several links available to allow you to see driver vs
driver performance and who was best over the last six
races. (Johnny was ranked 3rd).
Complete PR
(11-27-04)
NASCAR Banquets
The Craftsman Truck Series banquet
was held in Miami, FL on Saturday, November 20th. Bobby
Hamilton was crowned champion. The next
re-broadcast will be Sunday, November 28th at 8:00 p.m. on
SPEED.
It will also be showing on Sunday, December 26 at 9:00
p.m. on SPEED.
(Note: Johnny did not attend
banquet).
The Nextel Cup Series Banquet will
be held in New York on Friday, December 3rd. Kurt Busch
will be crowned the Nextel Cup Champion. It will be
broadcasted on TNT at 9:00 p.m.
The Busch Grand National Series banquet
will be held on Friday, December 10th in Orlando, FL.
Martin Truex Jr. will be crowned champion. It will be
broadcasted on TNT.
(11-26-04)
Momentum Sports Tour
Just in time for Christmas!
Momentum Sports Tours are offering two 4 days tour packages
for the 2005 NASCAR season. One package heads to
Talladega Superspeedway from April 29 through May 2. This
package includes 3 nights hotel, 3 meals, track transfers
and motorcoach trip to Talladega, AL. Race tickets include
Cup, BGN (high center on pits) and World of Outlaws at the
dirt track.
The other package will take you to
Bristol Motor Speedway (Mama Benson’s favorite track) from
August 25 - August 28. This package included 3 nights hotel,
3 meals, BGN and Cup tickets and track transfers. The
cost for each package are priced at $695 plus tax based on
double occupancy. For more information, you may call Ken at
Momentum Tours - 616-249-8687.
(11-26-04)
|
