Johnny Benson's Thoughts on Phoenix

     
Johnny Benson's Thoughts on Phoenix
     
      #30 Pennzoil Pontiac driver Johnny Benson will perform double duty 
     this weekend in Phoenix when he races in the Winston Cup race as well 
     as the Sears Craftsman truck series. Benson and the Bahari' team have 
     shown steady improvement during the year scoring the tenth most points 
     of all drivers in the second half of the season. He has also performed 
     well in his three truck races -- winning the pole at North Wilkesboro 
     and finishing in the top seven in each race. 
     
     The Phoenix track
     
     "This will be my first race in the Pennzoil Pontiac here, but I have 
     raced here twice in the truck series. The track is real smooth and 
     very fast, but it can also be slippery. It takes some finesse and a 
     lot of smoothness on the driver's part to get around quick. Turn one 
     and two are sharper than turn three and four." 
     
     Second Half Improvement
     
     "The second half of the season has gone well because of the track time 
     we have had, and our communication is really improved. My crew chief, 
     Doug Hewitt, and I have found the direction we want to go as far as 
     set-ups on the Pennzoil Pontiac. Plus, going to some of these tracks a 
     second time has helped. We've put ourselves in position to win a few 
     times this year and we've led some laps. For my first year, that is 
     pretty good, but next year we will do even better."
     
     Truck Series
     
     "I race in the truck series because it's good experience for me and 
     good exposure for Pennzoil. It helps a little bit on the Winston Cup 
     side because it gives me more time on the track, and that's especially 
     valuable here at Phoenix."