Johnny Benson: once and future champion

Pennzoil NASCAR driver Johnny Benson Jr. is no stranger to racing and no stranger to winning. The 32-year Michigander has already captured Rookie-of-the-Year and National Champion honors in the American Speed Association and the Busch Grand National Series and is regarded as one of the up-and-coming superstars in professional racing.

Johnny's driving skills may be in his genes. His father, John Sr., had a 26-year career in racing and was known as one of the greatest racers this country has ever produced. The younger Benson started racing on the dirt tracks of Thunderbird Speedway, located near the family's Grand Rapids, Mich. home. He drove his father's car for the first time at age 13, when he made a few laps around Berlin Raceway and promptly crashed.

Although he feared a stiff reprimand from his father, "Dad didn't say a word," laughed Johnny. "We loaded the car and drove home."

Benson began racing in the late `80s with the American Speed Association and in 1993 moved on to NASCAR racing, where he competed in the Busch Grand Nationals Series. His Busch career was no more than a lap old when he slid sideways in the second turn and began turning flips in the grass down the backstretch at Michigan International Speedway. Fortunately, Benson was able to climb out of the car unhurt. Despite the accident, he vowed to return to the racetrack the following season.

As promised, Benson came back even stronger the next year, winning the 1994 Busch Series Rookie-of-the-Year honors and finishing sixth in the series championship. He also won his first BGN race that year. The win, which occurred at Dover Downs International Speedway, made Benson notorious for being the first rookie to win his first BGN Series race on a superspeedway.

Benson excelled again in 1995, capturing the series championship, winning two races and recording 12 top-five finishes. In 1996 he joined Pennzoil and the Bahari racing team to race the #30 Pennzoil Pontiac in the Winston Cup series. Benson currently competes against the likes of Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and the best stock car drivers in the world.

To his fans, Johnny is a driver who combines looks, personality and driving skill. Some predict he will broaden the sport's appeal in the coming decade. "He doesn't look like a race car driver," observed one fan. "He looks like an accountant or stockbroker, and he's so down-to-earth," said another after talking with Johnny. His soft Michigan accent, boyish smile, glasses and pleasant disposition make people wonder if this is really the same guy who pilots the Pennzoil Pontiac at nearly 200 mph.

The Benson family brings a strong tradition of motorsports excellence as well as togetherness that is not uncommon in Winston Cup racing. Johnny's family support is more than just Dad's influence. Mother Judy, sister Barb, who runs the 1000-member fan club, and wife Debbie all cheer him on to victory.

Johnny and Pennzoil Pontiac owner Chuck Rider have high expectations for 1996. "I think we have an excellent chance to win Rookie of the Year and hopefully post some really good finishes, but the main thing early in the year is that we learn and improve every week," Benson said. "It's going to take time, but the guys at Bahari Racing are making that easier for me."

If all that happens, then the man some fans claim looks like "an accountant or stockbroker" might end up as one of the most famous drivers in the sport.