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NASCAR WCUP: Benson Endures Long Day For 30th-Place Finish in Miami

13 November 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

HOMESTEAD, FL: Johnny Benson and the #10 Aaron's Pontiac team will probably finish somewhere around 13th or 14th in the 2000 points standings when the checkered flag falls at the season-ending race at Atlanta on Sunday.

Considering the team missed the Atlanta race in March, it's obvious there have been very few frustrating days during this team and driver's first year together. But Sunday's race at Miami-Homestead Speedway was nothing but frustration for Benson and teammates as they struggled to figure out the handling on the flat 1.5-mile track.

Benson started the race in 14th and immediately reported he was driving a difficult handling car.

"This car is real, real tight," he said. "We need to take a pretty big swing at this."

Benson and crew chief James Ince made the major chassis changes and put on two new tires during the first round of caution pits stops on lap 25 caused by the Scott Pruett and Andy Houston's accident.

But, when the race resumed Benson began backing up through the field.

"This car is bad loose when another car is behind me," he said. "We are almost spinning out."

With eventual race winner Tony Stewart setting a blistering pace, it didn't take long for Benson to fall down a lap. During the long green flag runs in the middle of the race, Stewart lapped most of the field.

For Benson the day grew a little bit better and the team solved some of its handling problems but he had difficulty staying close to the leader. Benson also suffered a stop-and-go penalty for loose lugnuts after a pit stop late in the race.

Benson ended the race in 30th- place five laps behind Stewart. Bobby Labonte clinched the 2000 Winston Cup championship for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Benson said its only hard work and experience that separates the teams at this level.

"We just have to work on our flat track program," Benson said after the race. "We learned some stuff today that we can try when we come back here next year so it wasn't a total loss. I think we will be better at Atlanta next weekend. That's a place where we really want to do well and end the season on a good note."

Benson and his MB2 Motorsports teammates return to action at Atlanta this weekend hoping to maintain their 13th-place standing in the driver's point race.

Text Provided By Drew Brown

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