Johnny Benson
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Benson, Jr. is an American NASCAR
driver and the son of former Michigan modified
driver John Benson, Sr. His career highlights include the 1993 American Speed Association
AC-Delco Challenge series championship, the 1995 Busch Series
championship, the 1996 Winston Cup NASCAR Rookie of the Year
award, and the 2008 Craftsman Truck Series
championship. He is currently a free agent
.
in Marne, Michigan
before joining the American Speed Association
(ASA) in 1990, During Benson Jr's rookie season in the ASA he captured one pole position, led 174 laps and scored eight top 10 finishes to blitz the competition for the ASA"s Pat Schauer rookie of the Year award . In 1991 Benson compiled 13 top 10's including four second place finishes. Benson ranked fourth in the ASA AC-Delco Challenge Series in 1991. Benson later went on to win the 1993 American Speed Association
(ASA) champion. During his time in the ASA series he drove the # 21 Valvoline Chevrolet for Throop Motorsports.
In 1993, Benson made his Busch Series
debut at Michigan International Speedway
, driving the #41 Delco Remy Chevrolet
for Ernie Irvan
. He started 20th, but finished 40th after an early crash when he had flipped in the race. He ran three more races that season in the #74 Staff America Chevy for BACE Motorsports
, qualifying third at Hickory Motor Speedway
. His best finish was an eighteenth at Atlanta Motor Speedway
.
Benson was hired to drive full-time for BACE in 1994. He won his first career race at the SplitFire 200 and finished sixth in points, winning Rookie of the Year honors. The following season, Benson won early in the season at Atlanta and Hickory and had nineteen top-tens, winning the championship. He also began running in the Truck Series in the #18 Performance Friction Chevrolet Silverado
for Kurt Roehig. In his first season, his best finish was a second at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The following season, he won the pole at North Wilkesboro Speedway
.
He joined the #30 Pennzoil
team owned by Bahari' Racing. He failed to qualify for one race at the Food City 500
, but won the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year title. He won one pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway
. In August he dominated the Brickyard 400 before a problem on the last pitstop that ended his chances for victory. He ended the season with seven top-tens and was 21st in points. He was invited to the 1996 International Race of Champions
as the reigning Busch Series champion, and finished third in the final points, finishing in the Top 10 in all four races.
In 1997, Benson had nine top-tens, but did not finish in the top-five once. He won his second career pole at Michigan and finished outside of the top 10 by one point to Ken Schrader
. At the end of the season he announced he would be joining Roush Racing
to run the brand-new #26 General Mills
/Cheerios
Ford Taurus
.
He missed the season opening Daytona 500
, then finished 30th at the following race. He then had a streak of no finishes worse than ninth over the next five races and rose as high as tenth in points, before he finished 38th and 41st in the next two races. For the rest of the seaon, his best finish was ninth and he qualified no higher than second. He finished 21st in points. Benson had numerous crew chiefs in 1999. He had two top 10 finishes and finished 28th in the final standings. After a long negotiation, he was able to buy out his contract and announced he would leave Roush.
At the start of the 2000 Winston Cup Series Season Johnny found himself without a sponsor when he signed on to join Tyler Jet Motorsports
to run the #10 car. The team showed up at Daytona
Speedweeks with a white unsponsored Pontiac Grand Prix
. Lycos.com signed on to be the team's sponsor for the year on the morning of the Daytona 500
. During the race Johnny and crew chief James Ince gambled on a late pitstop when they took only 2 right side tires and fuel, to come out with the lead with 43 laps to go. He held off the field until Jimmy Spencer
brought out the caution in the final 10 laps. On the restart with 4 laps to go Benson was leading with Dale Jarrett
and Jeff Burton
right behind. Jarrett bumped Benson sending him up the track going into turn one Jarrett passed him for the win while Benson slid back in 12th. The car that Benson used is currently a coffee table in Benson's home. Benson finished sixth in the third race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
, and was eleventh in points. At the next race at Atlanta, Benson did not qualify in first-round qualifying, and he missed the race after the second round was canceled. Benson finished second three weeks later.
At the July Pepsi 400, the Tyler Jet Motorsports car showed up at Daytona again with a white car. During the weekend before the race the team removed the Lycos.com decals. Reports say that it was because Lycos never paid. Tyler Jet went sponsorless for the next 4 races when Aaron's
came aboard right before the team shut down. During the sponsorless run the team was sold to MB2 Motorsports
. In August, Valvoline announced they would not only sponsor the team but become part owner. Benson finished in thirteenth place in the final points. He had a career high second in the points following the Spring Darlington Race. He finished third at Texas and Indianapolis. He did not win a points race although he won the pole for the Winston Open on his way to winning the non-points race after the problems that leader Ryan Newman
in the #02 Altell Ford suffered late in the race, finishing eleventh in final points.
The 2002 season started out with a 10th place finish in the Daytona 500 despite a crash early in the race. In May, Benson agree to race in the Richmond
Busch Series
race for Marsh Racing
in the 31 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet
. Benson was involved in a wreck in the early stages of the races and ended up with broken ribs and he missed three Cup races. At the Pepsi 400 in Daytona he started sixth, and on the eighth lap he got together with Michael Waltrip
. Benson ended up rebreaking his ribs which put him out of action for two more races. At Loudon
Johnny started second, led 53 of 207 laps, and finished fourth. Benson had a career-best second place finish at the Martinsville Speedway
On November 3, he started 26th in the 43 car field at the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
. With 50 laps to go he was running in fifth, and with 28 laps left he passed Mark Martin
for the lead who had Valvoline as his sponsor for many years. In the last 10 laps other drivers were running out of gas including his teammate Ken Schrader
, but held off Martin by 0.26 seconds to win the race.
Benson was sixth in points after the first 4 races in 2003. Benson had Top 5 finishes at Dover and Homestead, and finished 24th in the points. Valvoline decided to release Johnny to go with rookie driver Scott Riggs
after the season was over.
2004 started off with Johnny signing on with Phoenix Racing
to run the full 2004 Busch Series schedule. Benson won his first Busch career pole at Rockingham, but a rules violation relegated him to last place. He was poised to win at Bristol in the spring until Benson was caught up in a late race incident between Kevin Harvick
and David Stremme
. Benson was also involved in a crash between the top 4 drivers at Nashville while racing for the win, and parted ways with Phoenix before the Richmond race. He also drove four races in Phoenix's #09 Cup ride, his best finish 27th at Daytona.
Over the next few months Johnny ran one Busch race for Matt Kenseth
. In August he was offered a ride in the Bill Davis Racing
#23 truck in the Craftsman Truck Series
. Johnny had eight Top 10 finishes in thirteen races. Benson had ten Top 10 finishes in 25 races, and 10th in the 2005 points standings. He ran four Busch races, one for FitzBradshaw Racing
, and another for Smith Bros. Racing, finishing 18th at Nashville. He also had three Cup starts, two of them in the #00 Sara Lee Chevy for Michael Waltrip
, and another in the #23 Dodge Intrepid
for Davis Racing. He finished 28th at Atlanta.
He won his first Craftsman Truck Series race at the 2006 Con-way Freight 200
at the Michigan International Speedway
. With the win, Johnny became the seventeenth driver that won a race in all three of NASCAR's major series. He has also won a pole in each of the three series. He followed with a back-to-back win at the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200
at Milwaukee Mile
. His third win of the season was at the Toyota Tundra 200
at Nashville Speedway
. His fourth win of the season was at the Sylvania 200
at New Hampshire International Speedway
. Johnny won his fifth race of the year at the Casino Arizona 150 at Phoenix International Raceway
. Benson finished the 2006 season in second place, 127 behind Todd Bodine
. He was named the series' Most Popular Driver for 2006.
For the 2007 season, Benson continued to drive in the #23 truck for Bill Davis Racing. He finished the season in third place with four wins: the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 at Milwaukee Mile, the O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife
at Bristol, the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
at Gateway International Raceway
, and the Ford 200
at Homestead-Miami Speedway
. Benson was named the series' Most Popular Driver for the second year in row, becoming the first driver to repeat as award recipient.
Benson drove the #23 truck in the 2008 Craftsman Truck Series, winning the series championship in the last race of the season. With the CTS
title, he became the second driver to win both the Busch Grand National (now Nationwide) Series and Craftsman Truck Series championships (Greg Biffle
accomplished this in 2002). In addition, to date he joins a list of only 3 drivers to ever win at least one championship in more than one of the three main title series. His first win of the season came at the Camping World RV Sales 200
at the Milwaukee Mile
, the third consecutive race that Benson has won as Milwaukee Mile. His second, third, and fourth wins came at the Built Ford Tough 225
at Kentucky Speedway
, the Power Stroke Diesel 200
at O'Reilly Raceway Park, and the Toyota Tundra 200
at Nashville Superspeedway
. With this series of wins, he became the fifth driver in the Craftsman Truck Series to win three races in a row. His fifth win of the year came at the Kroger 200
at Martinsville Speedway
. Benson was named the series' Most Popular Driver for the third year in row.
Benson returned to NEXTEL Cup racing by driving the Wyler Racing
#46 Toyota Camry
in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400 and the Bill Davis Racing #36 Toyota Camry in the Checker Auto Parts 500
and Ford 400
. In 2008, after a the deal for Jacques Villeneuve
to drive the Bill Davis Racing #27 Toyota Camry fell through, it was announced that Benson and Mike Skinner
would share driving duties for the #27. Benson failed to qualify in his first appearance in 2008 at the Kobalt Tools 500.
He also returned to the Busch racing by driving the Phoenix Racing
#1 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the 2007 AT&T 250
.
On November 6, 2008, Benson announced that he would not be returning to Bill Davis Racing after the 2008 season. On December 8, 2008, Benson announced that he would be joining the Red Horse Racing
team to drive the #1 Toyota Tundra in the 2009 season. Benson's crew chief from the 2008 season, Trip Bruce, also joined the #1 team. On June 8, 2009, it was announced that Red Horse Racing was having to suspend the #1 due to a lack of sponsorship after competing in eight races with four top 10 finishes.
On June 13, 2009 Benson was burned in a fiery crash in an ISMA Supermodifieds race at Berlin Raceway
. He was transported to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital
with where he was hospitalized suffering from a broken collarbone, separated shoulder, three broken ribs, bruised lungs, a fractured wrist and third-degree burns on one elbow. After undergoing two surgeries for the burns and a separated shoulder, Benson fully recovered.
For the 2010 season, Kyle Busch Motorsports
intended to field a truck for Benson, but did not to secure the necessary sponsorship. Benson served as a mentor to Kyle Busch Motorsports' drivers Brian Ickler
and Tayler Malsam
.
On October 2, 2010 Johnny Benson won the Racing Against Breast Cancer 100 lap event at the famed "Cement Palace" Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, Massachusetts.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver and the son of former Michigan modified
Modified racing
Modified stock car racing, also known as Modified racing or simply Modified, is one of the oldest types of racing in the United States, dating back to the days of the post-World War II coupes. The name for modified racing cars come from the fact that they are not stock but, rather, modified...
driver John Benson, Sr. His career highlights include the 1993 American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
AC-Delco Challenge series championship, the 1995 Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
championship, the 1996 Winston Cup NASCAR Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
award, and the 2008 Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
championship. He is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
Early career
Johnny Benson, Jr. was late model champion at Berlin RacewayBerlin Raceway
Berlin Raceway is a 0.438 mile long paved oval race track in Marne, Michigan, near Grand Rapids. It opened in 1950. The track is notable for the lack of an outside wall on the back straightaway, a unique feature for a national series such as ARCA...
in Marne, Michigan
Marne, Michigan
Marne is an unincorporated community in Wright Township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Township offices are located in the community...
before joining the American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
(ASA) in 1990, During Benson Jr's rookie season in the ASA he captured one pole position, led 174 laps and scored eight top 10 finishes to blitz the competition for the ASA"s Pat Schauer rookie of the Year award . In 1991 Benson compiled 13 top 10's including four second place finishes. Benson ranked fourth in the ASA AC-Delco Challenge Series in 1991. Benson later went on to win the 1993 American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
(ASA) champion. During his time in the ASA series he drove the # 21 Valvoline Chevrolet for Throop Motorsports.
In 1993, Benson made his Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
debut at Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
, driving the #41 Delco Remy Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
for Ernie Irvan
Ernie Irvan
Virgil Earnest Irvan, more commonly known as Ernie Irvan is a former race driver in NASCAR. He is best remembered for his comeback after a serious head injury at Michigan International Speedway which earned him numerous awards and respect from his fellow drivers...
. He started 20th, but finished 40th after an early crash when he had flipped in the race. He ran three more races that season in the #74 Staff America Chevy for BACE Motorsports
BACE Motorsports
BACE Motorsports is a former championship-winning NASCAR team. It was owned by entrepreneur Bill Baumgardner, who also founded Staff America. Baumgardner was inspired to start his own team after Staff America was a sponsor in the Busch Series for two years...
, qualifying third at Hickory Motor Speedway
Hickory Motor Speedway
Hickory Motor Speedway is a short track located in Hickory, North Carolina. It is one of stock car racing's most storied venues, and is often referred to as "The World's Most Famous Short Track" and the "Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars"....
. His best finish was an eighteenth at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
.
Benson was hired to drive full-time for BACE in 1994. He won his first career race at the SplitFire 200 and finished sixth in points, winning Rookie of the Year honors. The following season, Benson won early in the season at Atlanta and Hickory and had nineteen top-tens, winning the championship. He also began running in the Truck Series in the #18 Performance Friction Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
for Kurt Roehig. In his first season, his best finish was a second at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The following season, he won the pole at North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro Speedway was a short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996...
.
1996-1999
In 1996, he moved up to the Winston Cup Series. A series Benson's father John Benson, Sr competed in for one race back in 1973 .He joined the #30 Pennzoil
Pennzoil
Pennzoil is an American oil company founded in Los Angeles, California in 1913. In 1955, it was acquired by Oil City, Pennsylvania company South Penn Oil, a former branch of Standard Oil. In 1963, South Penn Oil merged with Zapata Petroleum; the merged company took the Pennzoil name. During the...
team owned by Bahari' Racing. He failed to qualify for one race at the Food City 500
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
, but won the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year title. He won one pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
. In August he dominated the Brickyard 400 before a problem on the last pitstop that ended his chances for victory. He ended the season with seven top-tens and was 21st in points. He was invited to the 1996 International Race of Champions
International Race of Champions
International Race of Champions, better known as IROC, was a North American auto racing competition, promoted as an equivalent of an American All-Star Game or The Masters...
as the reigning Busch Series champion, and finished third in the final points, finishing in the Top 10 in all four races.
Ken Schrader
Kenneth Schrader is a second-generation race car driver. He currently races on local dirt and asphalt tracks around the country while driving part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series for his own Ken Schrader Racing. He also runs part time in the NASCAR Camping...
. At the end of the season he announced he would be joining Roush Racing
Roush Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is a racing team competing in NASCAR racing. As one of NASCAR's largest premier racing teams, Roush runs teams in the Sprint and Nationwide Series, and formerly in the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series.Roush first entered NASCAR competition in 1988, but had...
to run the brand-new #26 General Mills
General Mills
General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green...
/Cheerios
Cheerios
Cheerios is a brand of breakfast cereal by General Mills introduced on May 1, 1941 as the first oat-based, ready-to-eat cold cereal. Originally named CheeriOats, the name was changed to Cheerios in 1945 because of a trade name dispute with Quaker Oats. The name fit the "O" shape of the cereal pieces...
Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
.
He missed the season opening Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, then finished 30th at the following race. He then had a streak of no finishes worse than ninth over the next five races and rose as high as tenth in points, before he finished 38th and 41st in the next two races. For the rest of the seaon, his best finish was ninth and he qualified no higher than second. He finished 21st in points. Benson had numerous crew chiefs in 1999. He had two top 10 finishes and finished 28th in the final standings. After a long negotiation, he was able to buy out his contract and announced he would leave Roush.
2000-2003
Tyler Jet Motorsports
Tyler Jet Motorsports was a NASCAR Winston Cup race team.Tyler Jet Motorsports was owned by Tim Beverly, owner of the airplane sales company that shared a name with the race team, and was formed in 1998 after Beverly purchased the assets of DarWal, Inc...
to run the #10 car. The team showed up at Daytona
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
Speedweeks with a white unsponsored Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac Grand Prix
Picking up where the Pontiac Ventura model left off, the Grand Prix first appeared in the Pontiac line for 1962. It was essentially a standard Pontiac Catalina coupe with minimal outside chrome trim and a sportier interior...
. Lycos.com signed on to be the team's sponsor for the year on the morning of the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
. During the race Johnny and crew chief James Ince gambled on a late pitstop when they took only 2 right side tires and fuel, to come out with the lead with 43 laps to go. He held off the field until Jimmy Spencer
Jimmy Spencer
Jimmy Spencer is a current television commentator, and a former NASCAR driver. He formerly hosted the NASCAR inspired talk show, “What’s the Deal?”, on SPEED. He is the former co-host, with John Roberts and Kenny Wallace, of the SPEED's pre-race and post-race NASCAR shows NASCAR RaceDay and...
brought out the caution in the final 10 laps. On the restart with 4 laps to go Benson was leading with Dale Jarrett
Dale Jarrett
Dale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
and Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton
Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...
right behind. Jarrett bumped Benson sending him up the track going into turn one Jarrett passed him for the win while Benson slid back in 12th. The car that Benson used is currently a coffee table in Benson's home. Benson finished sixth in the third race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
, and was eleventh in points. At the next race at Atlanta, Benson did not qualify in first-round qualifying, and he missed the race after the second round was canceled. Benson finished second three weeks later.
At the July Pepsi 400, the Tyler Jet Motorsports car showed up at Daytona again with a white car. During the weekend before the race the team removed the Lycos.com decals. Reports say that it was because Lycos never paid. Tyler Jet went sponsorless for the next 4 races when Aaron's
Aaron's
Aaron's, Inc. is a lease-to-own retailer. The company focuses on leases and retail sales of furniture, electronics, appliances, and computers. It is divided into three major divisions: sales and lease ownership; corporate furnishings; and manufacturing. The incorporation of manufacturing as well...
came aboard right before the team shut down. During the sponsorless run the team was sold to MB2 Motorsports
MB2 Motorsports
Ginn Racing was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte. Its principal owners in its final season, 2007, were 80% Bobby Ginn and 20% Jay Frye. The Valvoline corporation co-owned the #10 car with the principal owners from 2001 to 2005...
. In August, Valvoline announced they would not only sponsor the team but become part owner. Benson finished in thirteenth place in the final points. He had a career high second in the points following the Spring Darlington Race. He finished third at Texas and Indianapolis. He did not win a points race although he won the pole for the Winston Open on his way to winning the non-points race after the problems that leader Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman
Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering...
in the #02 Altell Ford suffered late in the race, finishing eleventh in final points.
The 2002 season started out with a 10th place finish in the Daytona 500 despite a crash early in the race. In May, Benson agree to race in the Richmond
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
race for Marsh Racing
Marsh Racing
Marsh Racing is a team in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and formerly a team which competed in the NASCAR Busch Series. The team is owned by Ted Marsh. A longtime Chevrolet team sporting the No. 31 with backing from Whelen Engineering, Marsh Racing currently fields a Corvette in the Rolex...
in the 31 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
. Benson was involved in a wreck in the early stages of the races and ended up with broken ribs and he missed three Cup races. At the Pepsi 400 in Daytona he started sixth, and on the eighth lap he got together with Michael Waltrip
Michael Waltrip
Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
. Benson ended up rebreaking his ribs which put him out of action for two more races. At Loudon
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
Johnny started second, led 53 of 207 laps, and finished fourth. Benson had a career-best second place finish at the Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
On November 3, he started 26th in the 43 car field at the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
The Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup event that took place in November at the North Carolina Motor Speedway from 1965 to 2003...
. With 50 laps to go he was running in fifth, and with 28 laps left he passed Mark Martin
Mark Martin (NASCAR)
Mark Anthony Martin is an American stock car driver currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. As of 2012, Martin will drive for Michael Waltrip Racing, moving on from successful organizations such as Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing. He has the second most wins in the NASCAR...
for the lead who had Valvoline as his sponsor for many years. In the last 10 laps other drivers were running out of gas including his teammate Ken Schrader
Ken Schrader
Kenneth Schrader is a second-generation race car driver. He currently races on local dirt and asphalt tracks around the country while driving part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series for his own Ken Schrader Racing. He also runs part time in the NASCAR Camping...
, but held off Martin by 0.26 seconds to win the race.
Benson was sixth in points after the first 4 races in 2003. Benson had Top 5 finishes at Dover and Homestead, and finished 24th in the points. Valvoline decided to release Johnny to go with rookie driver Scott Riggs
Scott Riggs
Russell Scott Riggs is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #81 Dodge Charger for Whitney Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
after the season was over.
Busch and Trucks: 2004-present
2004 started off with Johnny signing on with Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing is a NASCAR team owned by James Finch. It currently fields the #51 Chevrolet Impala in the Sprint Cup Series driven by Landon Cassill and the #1 Chevrolet Impala in the Nationwide Series driven by Landon Cassill and Jamie McMurray....
to run the full 2004 Busch Series schedule. Benson won his first Busch career pole at Rockingham, but a rules violation relegated him to last place. He was poised to win at Bristol in the spring until Benson was caught up in a late race incident between Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
and David Stremme
David Stremme
David Andrew Stremme is an American stock car driver. He is most notable as the 2003 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, winning the award while running a part time for several different teams. He currently drives the #30 Chevrolet Impala for Inception Motorsports.-Early life:Stremme was...
. Benson was also involved in a crash between the top 4 drivers at Nashville while racing for the win, and parted ways with Phoenix before the Richmond race. He also drove four races in Phoenix's #09 Cup ride, his best finish 27th at Daytona.
Over the next few months Johnny ran one Busch race for Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
. In August he was offered a ride in the Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing was a racing team that participated in all three of NASCAR's top divisions until 2009.The team had run Toyota-branded stock cars and trucks in both the Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series since 2007. Dodge, Ford, and Pontiac previously backed the team...
#23 truck in the Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
. Johnny had eight Top 10 finishes in thirteen races. Benson had ten Top 10 finishes in 25 races, and 10th in the 2005 points standings. He ran four Busch races, one for FitzBradshaw Racing
FitzBradshaw Racing
Trail Motorsports was a NASCAR team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte. The team is owned by Armando Fitz and Art Shelton, and was previously co-owned by Fitz's former wife Mimi...
, and another for Smith Bros. Racing, finishing 18th at Nashville. He also had three Cup starts, two of them in the #00 Sara Lee Chevy for Michael Waltrip
Michael Waltrip
Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
, and another in the #23 Dodge Intrepid
Dodge Intrepid
The Dodge Intrepid is a large four-door, full-size, front-wheel drive sedan car model that was produced for model years 1993 to 2004. It was mechanically related to the Chrysler Concorde, Chrysler LHS, Chrysler New Yorker, Eagle Vision, and also the 300M sedans...
for Davis Racing. He finished 28th at Atlanta.
He won his first Craftsman Truck Series race at the 2006 Con-way Freight 200
Con-way Freight 200
The VFW 200 is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that takes place at Michigan International Speedway. The event was started in 1999 and was won by Greg Biffle. In 2001 Michigan did not hold a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race because of date conflicts with the CART event which it had...
at the Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
. With the win, Johnny became the seventeenth driver that won a race in all three of NASCAR's major series. He has also won a pole in each of the three series. He followed with a back-to-back win at the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200
Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200
The Copart 200 is a race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series which takes place at The Milwaukee Mile.-Race results:...
at Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....
. His third win of the season was at the Toyota Tundra 200
Toyota Tundra 200
The Lucas Deep Clean 200 is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held at Nashville Superspeedway in Nashville, Tennessee. The race, originally held in August, moved to July for the 2011 season...
at Nashville Speedway
Nashville Speedway
There are two oval race tracks near Nashville, Tennessee sometimes referred to as Nashville Speedway:*Nashville Speedway USA, a small track formerly visited opened in 1904*Nashville Superspeedway, a modern concrete oval opened in 2001...
. His fourth win of the season was at the Sylvania 200
Sylvania 200
The F.W. Webb 175 is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. It is held the day before the Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300, the first event in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. In 2010, the distance was shortened to 175 laps, where before...
at New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
. Johnny won his fifth race of the year at the Casino Arizona 150 at Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
. Benson finished the 2006 season in second place, 127 behind Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine is a NASCAR driver. Todd is the younger brother of former racers Geoff Bodine and Brett Bodine. Bodine is known for his bald head, which has given him the nickname The Onion...
. He was named the series' Most Popular Driver for 2006.
For the 2007 season, Benson continued to drive in the #23 truck for Bill Davis Racing. He finished the season in third place with four wins: the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 at Milwaukee Mile, the O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife
O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife
The O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that takes place in August at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. It is currently held on the Wednesday night prior to the Sprint Cup Series Saturday night race, the Irwin Tools Night Race. When first held...
at Bristol, the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200
The Copart 200 was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that took place at Gateway International Raceway from 1998 to 2010.Past winners:* 2010 Kevin Harvick...
at Gateway International Raceway
Gateway International Raceway
Gateway Motorsports Park is a race track in Madison, Illinois, USA, just east of St. Louis, Missouri. After being shuttered by former owner Dover Motorsports Inc., on Nov. 3, 2010, it was announced Sept. 8, 2011, that the facility would re-open and host an NHRA Full Throttle Series event Oct. 5-7,...
, and the Ford 200
Ford 200
The Ford 200 is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that takes place at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The races of 1996-2001 were scheduled 250 miles.It has served as the final event of the season for the Truck Series since 2002.-Past winners:...
at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
. Benson was named the series' Most Popular Driver for the second year in row, becoming the first driver to repeat as award recipient.
Benson drove the #23 truck in the 2008 Craftsman Truck Series, winning the series championship in the last race of the season. With the CTS
CTS
- Television :* Chinese Television System, a Taiwanese broadcast television station.**CTS Main Channel ** CTS Education and Culture ** CTS Recreation ** CTS News...
title, he became the second driver to win both the Busch Grand National (now Nationwide) Series and Craftsman Truck Series championships (Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
accomplished this in 2002). In addition, to date he joins a list of only 3 drivers to ever win at least one championship in more than one of the three main title series. His first win of the season came at the Camping World RV Sales 200
Camping World RV Sales 200
At one time, four NASCAR races were known as the Camping World RV Sales 200:* For the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway from 2007-present, see New England 200...
at the Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....
, the third consecutive race that Benson has won as Milwaukee Mile. His second, third, and fourth wins came at the Built Ford Tough 225
Built Ford Tough 225
The Kentucky 225 is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. The race, originally held in June or July moved to September in 2010. One year later, the race was moved to October...
at Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned...
, the Power Stroke Diesel 200
Power Stroke Diesel 200
The AAA Insurance 200 was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that took place at Lucas Oil Raceway in the suburb of Clermont, Indiana, located west of Indianapolis...
at O'Reilly Raceway Park, and the Toyota Tundra 200
Toyota Tundra 200
The Lucas Deep Clean 200 is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held at Nashville Superspeedway in Nashville, Tennessee. The race, originally held in August, moved to July for the 2011 season...
at Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in...
. With this series of wins, he became the fifth driver in the Craftsman Truck Series to win three races in a row. His fifth win of the year came at the Kroger 200
Kroger 200
Kroger 200 can mean:*The Kroger 200 , a NASCAR Nationwide Series race held at O'Reily Raceway Park*The Kroger 200 , a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race held at Martinsville Speedway...
at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
. Benson was named the series' Most Popular Driver for the third year in row.
Benson returned to NEXTEL Cup racing by driving the Wyler Racing
Wyler Racing
Turn One Racing is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. They currently field the #60 Red Bull/Fuel Doctor USA Chevrolet Silverado for Red Bull development driver Cole Whitt and the #66 GoPro Chevrolet Silverado for Justin Marks...
#46 Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400 and the Bill Davis Racing #36 Toyota Camry in the Checker Auto Parts 500
Checker Auto Parts 500
The Kobalt Tools 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. The race is sponsored by Lowe's through its Kobalt Tools brand.-Past winners:*1998: Race shortened due to rain....
and Ford 400
Ford 400
The Ford 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.The race is relatively new on the NASCAR circuit, first being run in 1999. Since 2002, the Ford 400 has been part of the Ford Championship Weekend, the last week of the NASCAR season. Starting...
. In 2008, after a the deal for Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve, , is a Canadian musician and automobile racing driver. He is the son of the late Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve, and is the namesake of his uncle...
to drive the Bill Davis Racing #27 Toyota Camry fell through, it was announced that Benson and Mike Skinner
Mike Skinner (NASCAR)
Mike Skinner is an American driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the primary driver of the #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing. He is the father of former NASCAR drivers Jamie and Dustin Skinner...
would share driving duties for the #27. Benson failed to qualify in his first appearance in 2008 at the Kobalt Tools 500.
He also returned to the Busch racing by driving the Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing
Phoenix Racing is a NASCAR team owned by James Finch. It currently fields the #51 Chevrolet Impala in the Sprint Cup Series driven by Landon Cassill and the #1 Chevrolet Impala in the Nationwide Series driven by Landon Cassill and Jamie McMurray....
#1 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the 2007 AT&T 250
AT&T 250
The NorthernTool.com 250 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race held at the Milwaukee Mile. From 1984-1985, the race was 200 laps, long. From 1986-1992, no race was held. In 1993, the race returned, and was increased to 250 laps, , a distance it has remained at since...
.
On November 6, 2008, Benson announced that he would not be returning to Bill Davis Racing after the 2008 season. On December 8, 2008, Benson announced that he would be joining the Red Horse Racing
Red Horse Racing
Red Horse Racing is an American racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. It is co-owned by business executive Tom DeLoach and NASCAR on Fox broadcaster Jeff Hammond...
team to drive the #1 Toyota Tundra in the 2009 season. Benson's crew chief from the 2008 season, Trip Bruce, also joined the #1 team. On June 8, 2009, it was announced that Red Horse Racing was having to suspend the #1 due to a lack of sponsorship after competing in eight races with four top 10 finishes.
On June 13, 2009 Benson was burned in a fiery crash in an ISMA Supermodifieds race at Berlin Raceway
Berlin Raceway
Berlin Raceway is a 0.438 mile long paved oval race track in Marne, Michigan, near Grand Rapids. It opened in 1950. The track is notable for the lack of an outside wall on the back straightaway, a unique feature for a national series such as ARCA...
. He was transported to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital
Spectrum Health
Spectrum Health System, commonly known as Spectrum Health, is a not-for-profit, integrated, managed care health care organization based in West Michigan. Spectrum Health's subsidiaries include hospitals, treatment facilities, urgent-care facilities, as well as physician practices that serve the...
with where he was hospitalized suffering from a broken collarbone, separated shoulder, three broken ribs, bruised lungs, a fractured wrist and third-degree burns on one elbow. After undergoing two surgeries for the burns and a separated shoulder, Benson fully recovered.
For the 2010 season, Kyle Busch Motorsports
Kyle Busch Motorsports
Kyle Busch Motorsports is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and late model team that is owned and operated by Kyle Busch, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Truck Series driver...
intended to field a truck for Benson, but did not to secure the necessary sponsorship. Benson served as a mentor to Kyle Busch Motorsports' drivers Brian Ickler
Brian Ickler
Brian Ickler is an American race car driver. He drives the #18 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He is also the owner of Ickler Motorsports, an ARCA Remax Series team.-Early life:Ickler started in off-road racing when he was 14 years old...
and Tayler Malsam
Tayler Malsam
Tayler Malsam is an American race car driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Early career:...
.
On October 2, 2010 Johnny Benson won the Racing Against Breast Cancer 100 lap event at the famed "Cement Palace" Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, Massachusetts.