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)