Travis Bennett didn't have racing on his agenda this weekend as the 40th annual Apple Cup was being held at Yakima Speedway, but that would soon change come 8:15 am on Sunday morning. Planning on just being a spectator for Sundays big 200 lap main event, Bennett received a phone call that would change that and have him at Yakima Speedway practicing in less than an hour.
The brand new left-hander belonged to Rick Suran of Estacada Oregon who had sent his car and crew to the track on Saturday and then was not able to make the race on Sunday. The crew had spent all winter preparing the #40 chevy and 40 seemed to be the lucky number as the car was 40 and it was racing in the 40th annual apple cup.
Although Bennett missed the first practice session, he would soon get out on the track with practice times good enough to put him in the top 5 where he would also end up for qualifying. BJ Tidrick had the pole with the only car in the 18 second bracket and would be followed by Kelly Mann, Jason Fraser, Troy Conrad and Travis Bennett to take the green.
Tidrick led the first 100 laps when the field would take a break for fuel. When the race got restarted, Tidrick still had the lead but that would end shortly as Kelly Mann took the point on lap 120. Bennett was in third at the time and would slowly work on Tidrick to get around him. On lap 128 Bennett stopped for tires under caution and would work his way back up to the field. With Christian Roeder leading, Bennett took the lead on lap 162 and never looked back.
On lap 200 Bennett took the checkers followed by BJ Tidrick, Kelly Mann, Tom Sweatman and Jason Jefferson.
The Apple Cup victory would be the first for the Bennett family and it was an emotional affair as Travis's family and friends met him in Victory Circle.
"I just cant believe this" said an emotional Bennett. "This morning I was just planning on coming down and watching and now here I am in Victory Circle. I just want to thank Rick Suran and his whole East Side Paving crew for everything they have done. They built an awesome car and I feel so lucky to be able to drive it. Any time they need a driver, I'd be more than happy to race for them, they are really a great group of guys."
"This is just how we needed to start off the season for me and my crew," said Bennett. "We had a rough year last year but as far as I'm concerned, that's all in the past and we are only going to move forward from here."
Travis Bennett and his DS Racing crew will kick off their 2006 season in the Nascar Autozone Elite Division Northwest Series on April 29th at Meridian Speedway in Meridian Idaho.
