#10 Benson Michigan Preview
John Benson's Father's Day Wish #10 Pontiac driver Johnny Benson gets to enjoy a Michigan Homecoming this week and hopes to give his father John Benson a special Father’s Day present. The elder Benson knows his way around a race car. He graced the cover of Stock Car Racing Magazine in 1970. In his long racing career he posted more than 75 victories including 1966 National Supermodified Championship in Oswego, N.Y. - the "crown jewel" of the modified series at the time. He also started and continues to operate Benson Speed Equipment in Grand Rapids, Mich. The elder Benson, who raced in the 1973 Nascar race at Michigan, will watch his son race from the backstretch where he serves as the team’s second spotter. Notes: ---- Benson has finished in the top 8 in four of the last five races at Michigan International Speedway. ---- Benson will race at Berlin Raceway in Marne Mich. on Tuesday along with Tony Stewart. Benson will attend a Valvoline appearance in Traverse City Mich on Wednesday, then attend a U.S. Army function in Tecumseh Mich. on Thursday to watch the U.S. Army's Golden Knights parachute team John Benson On His Father’s Day Wish: “My best Father’s Day present would be a another win for Johnny and those guys. They have had an up and down season, but they could certainly win. It coming on Father’s Day would make it even nicer. If he doesn’t win, it is still good because he’s happy doing what he is doing.” What Is It Like Watching Your Son Race? “Obviously, you are quite concerned because he is your kid. That’s utmost on your mind. But you also want to see him do well and do what he likes to do. You can’t take him out of what he likes to do and he wouldn’t listen to you anyhow if you tried to get him out of racing.” Does Your Racing Involvement Make It Easier Or Worse Watching Johnny? “It makes it worse. You know what can happen on the race track. I kind of ride along with him. You look at the guys he is coming up on and say ‘ that’s a really good driver and I don’t have to worry about him or this one that’s third up there he is going to have a problem getting around him or he could get in trouble trying to pass him.’ That’s always a concern when I watch races. So many things can happen.” Johnny Benson On His Father: “I’ve told people when I was growing up if I got in trouble I had to go to the track to watch my Dad race. When my sister got in trouble they made her stay home. So I watched plenty of his races and he has watched me race a lot as well. What can you say about your Dad other than if it wasn’t for him you sure wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t have the career success that I had. I think he’ s about the most important person in my racing career.” Benson Career at Michigan Race Year S F August 2002 35 8 June 2002 30 6 August 2001 22 5 June 2001 10 12 August 2000 23 5 June 2000 11 24 August 1999 41 21 June 1999 26 19 August 1998 38 34 June 1998 21 22 August 1997 1 24 June 1997 7 10 August 1996 19 7 June 1996 37 37 THE RACE: Sirius 400 Winston Cup Race #15 of 36 for the 2003 Winston Cup season Race: Sunday, June 15, 2003 in Brooklyn, MI TV: Fox - 1:30pm/et Pre-Race Show: Fox - 12:30pm/et - with hosts Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond Race Re-Air: June 18th at 8:00pm/et on Speed Channel, June 19th at 1:00am/et and 3:00pm/et on Speed Channel Announcers: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds Pit Reporters: Dick Berggren, Matt Yocum, Steve Byrnes, Jeanne Zelasko Hollywood Hotel: Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond NASCAR on TV and Fox Sports Purse/Race Awards: (was $3,798,525 in 2002) 2002 Race Winner: Matt Kenseth, 154.822mph, started 20th Race Record: Dale Jarrett, June 1999, 173.997mph (no cautions) Track/Race Length: 2.0 oval, 200 laps, 400 miles Pit Road Speed: 45mph ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Practice Practice: Friday, June 13th, 11:00am - 1:00pm/et; and Saturday, June 14th, 9:30 - 10:15am/et Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, June 14th, 11:10 - 11:55am/et on TV-FX via tape at 6:30pm/et. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Qualifying Qualifying Draw: Friday, June 13th, 10:00am/et First Round Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-36, Friday, June 13th at 3:05pm/et, TV-Speed Channel live, re-air at 8:00pm/et, and live via MRN Second-Round Qualifying: there is no longer a 2nd round of qualifying (since the 2001 season) Event Qualifying Record: Dale Jarrett, June 2000, 189.883mph Track Qualifying Record: Dale Earnhardt Jr, August 2000, 191.149mph June 2002 Pole Sitter: Dale Jarrett, 189.071mph, finished 2nd ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Track Specs: Superspeedway: 2.0-mile D-shaped oval Banking: turns: 18 degrees; straights: frontstretch 12 degrees, backstretch 5 degrees Backstretch Length: 2,242 feet; Front stretch Length: 2,229 feet 73 feet wide with 10-foot apron in turns, 45 feet wide with 12-foot apron on straightaways Pit lane is 50 feet wide and contains space for 44 individual pit areas Grandstand Seating: 82,000, attendence: 136,373. 10 Pontiac Team Television Information Pit Contact: James Ince or Drew Brown Owners: (Jim Rocco)/MB2 Motorsports (Tom Beard, Nelson Bowers, Read Morton) Crew Chief/Car Chief: James Ince Engine Builder: Hendrick Motorsports Spotter (Race Day) Jay Guy Spotter (Practice Only) Russell Hoekwater Engine Tuner John Kendrach Over The Wall Pit Crew Front Tire Changer Bobby Burrell Front Tire Carrier Shane Cooke Rear Tire Changer Greg Burkhart Rear Tire Carrier Steve Genenbacher Gasman Jimmy Watts Tire Specialist Skippy Johnson Catch Can Steve Mann Jackman Brian Perry Other Crew Members Truck Driver: Gale (Bandit) Wilson Mechanic: Jerry Hess Mechanic: David Baum Shocks: Mike Cluka Tires: Jeff (Skippy) Johnson Engineer: Tim Turner Computers & Gas Runner: John Hayes Scorer: Terry Lane Pit Stop Coach: Gary Smith PR Rep: Drew Brown