Johnny Benson celebrates after winning his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race. (High Sierra Photo)

Johnny Benson claimed his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory by taking the win in the Con-way Freight 200 Saturday afternoon at Michigan International Speedway. Benson, from nearby Grand Rapids, Michigan, held back three-time 2006 Truck Series winner Mark Martin to become the 17th driver to pick up wins in all three nationally touring NASCAR series. Benson, driving the No. 23 Exide Batteries Toyota, delivered his first series win in his 60th series start.

Benson took over the lead from Mark Martin on lap 73, and was forced to endure three late-race cautions before securing the victory. With clean air out front, Benson was able to choose his line, and he decided to run the bottom, forcing runner-up finisher Martin to try to make the high groove work.  Former Michigan Cup Series winner Bobby Labonte piloted the No. 4 Dodge Motorsports Dodge to a third place finish, the best finish for a Dodge all season.

Todd Bodine survived a late-race scrape with Brendan Gaughan to make a charge through the top ten to come home fourth in the No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota.  Matt Crafton rounded out the top five finishers in the No. 88 Menards/Energizer Chevrolet, his second top five finish of 2006.  Rick Crawford was sixth in the No. 14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford, Ron Hornaday was seventh in the No. 33 Kevin Harvick, Inc. Chevrolet, Dennis Setzer was eighth in the GM FlexFuel Chevrolet, Terry Cook ninth in the Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford, and Jack Sprague rounded out the top ten in the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota. Erik Darnell was the highest Raybestos Rookie finisher, coming across the line 12th in the No. 99 Woolrich Ford. Mike Skinner started on the pole but overheating problems sent him to the pits for an unscheduled stop, relegating him to eleventh at the finish in the No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota.