Benson's Time Holds Up In Saturday Qualifying At The Rock

When Johnny Benson climbed from the #10 Valvoline Pontiac he was convinced that his 23.584-second lap at North Carolina Speedway early Saturday morning wouldn't hold up too well. Benson practiced in the top ten, but didn't post the speed he wanted and most of the field had yet to make a two-lap qualifying attempt.

"We just couldn't get a grip on the track," said Benson seconds after the run. "I think it might be 25th at best."

Benson is a better driver than prognosticator. Most of his competitors suffered the same maladies and by the time the one-round qualifying session ended, Benson qualified eighth for Sunday's 400-mile race in Rockingham, N.C.

"Wow, we sure didn't think that is where we ended up but we will take it," Benson said. "I guess we thought a lot of others would go faster, but they didn't. That's cool. Now we can just get ready to race."

Jeff Gordon won the pole for Sunday's race that begins at 1 p.m. on Fox.