The No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra team headed to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with high hopes. After finishing second in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship standings last season, Johnny Benson and his team were ready to make their mark early in the 2007 season.
The team struggled somewhat during the first practice session, but after many changes to his Toyota Tundra, Benson was able to maneuver well through the draft. The team chose not to focus entirely on single-truck runs.
Benson was the first driver to qualify Thursday night and posted the 10th-best qualifying speed for Friday night’s 250-mile event.
When the green flag waved over the 36-truck field, Benson and the No. 23 team were more than ready for the season to get underway. The second caution flag of the night waved on lap 10, and Benson joined the rest of his competitors on pit road for a fuel stop.
By lap 20, Benson had begun his charge to the front. When everyone else pitted under caution on lap 26, Benson remained on the track. The No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra took the lead under the caution and worked well in the draft. Benson and his team were optimistic.
Benson drove hard and remained in the top five during the next 20 laps. He planned to pit under green flag conditions on lap 49, but fortunately, the caution flag waved before he could pit. Benson and his team were able to refuel the truck without losing a lap.
Benson regained the lead after the restart and held it through the halfway point of the event. The caution flag waved again on lap 62, during which time Benson pitted for four tires and fuel. He restarted 13th on lap 67.
Benson quickly vaulted forward and was within the top three with 20 laps to go. With his BDR teammate Mike Skinner behind him and Toyota teammate Jack Sprague in front of him, Benson knew he had to make his move on the last lap.
Coming off turn four on the final lap, Benson got a hard push from behind, which in turn bumped Sprague in front of him. Benson hurled himself to a three-wide finish at Daytona. Benson finished second in the second closest race in Daytona’s history and finds himself already in the hunt for the NCTS championship.
The team returns to action this week at California Speedway. After finishing sixth there in 2006, Benson hopes to do even better this year. The race can be seen live Friday, Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. (EST) on the SPEED Channel.
Race: Chevy Silverado HD 250
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Date: Friday, Feb. 16, 2007
Started: Tenth
Finished: Second
Laps Completed: 100
Total Laps: 100
