Johnny Benson - Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Racing

With the 2008 season off to a great start in Daytona, Johnny Benson and his No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles team headed to the two-mile California Speedway with high hopes.

The California truck was same truck that carried Benson to victory in the 2007 season-finale Homestead Miami Speedway. Benson knew he would be a force to be reckoned with on the West Coast track, and he proved that right off the bat. Benson ran strong during both practice sessions Thursday. He and his team were excited and ready to get qualifying underway on Friday. Mother Nature had other plans, though, and qualifying was cancelled due to rain. Benson would line up in the third position for Saturday’s 100-lap race, as the starting grid was based on last year’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings.

Before the green flag waved over the field Saturday afternoon, the No. 23 team realized the truck’s fuel pump was broken. The team replaced the fuel pump before the race began, and Benson was relegated to the rear of the field for the start of the race.

Benson didn’t stay there long. By lap five, Benson and his Tundra were already in the top-20 and kept picking off positions one by one each lap. The caution flag waved on lap 14 for debris, and Benson joined the rest of the field on pit road for four tires and fuel. Benson’s truck was handling well, and he once again charged through the field. He reached the eighth position by lap 30.

Benson reported to crew chief Trip Bruce that his truck felt good, but it was lacking a bit. Benson was glad to see the caution flag wave again on lap 44. Benson stopped for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment, then returned to the track in second place for the lap 48 restart.

The truck’s handling tightened again a few laps later, but Benson maintained his position well. He gave up second place only to take the lead on lap 81. Benson maintained the lead for the next three laps before he dove down pit road for a green flag pit stop. A fast two-tire stop left Benson only 15 laps to fight for the lead.

Benson battled hard to catch the two trucks in front of him, but he came up a bit short for the victory. His third-place finish was his highest finish at California Speedway.

Benson and the rest of the Craftsman Truck Series will have a week off before they head to Atlanta Motor Speedway in two weeks. The race will be televised live Friday, March 7 on SPEED Channel.