Johnny Benson and the No. 23 Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra team went to Memphis knowing they needed to survive in order to remain within striking distance of Todd Bodine, who sits atop the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings. Memphis Motorsports Park is another place at which someone else's mistake can cause great headaches.

The team struggled during both practice sessions Friday in its attempt to find balance in the truck. Benson reported that the truck's handling was loose and tight in the corners. The team searched for stability with a number of spring and shock combinations, but nothing seemed to help the truck turn in the corners. Crew chief Rick Ren made a number of major changes to the suspension, hoping it would help with grip. At the end of the final practice, Benson said the changes seemed to help. The team was cautiously optimistic about its chances in Saturday night's 200-lap event.

Benson qualified his Toyota Tundra in the 22nd position and began his charge to the front at the very start of the race. He communicated to his crew on lap five that his truck was sliding all over the track, but he felt like it was going to come in as the race progressed. By lap 25, Benson had moved into the 17th position. He said the truck was tight in the front end and the crew needed to make a big change during the first stop.

The crew received the opportunity to make those changes under caution on lap 63. Benson arrived in the pits and received four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Fast work by the No. 23 crew gained Benson four positions on the track.

When the race restarted on lap 66, Benson was in the 14th spot. Fourteen laps later, Benson spun due to a flat right-rear tire. The No. 20 truck clipped the front of Benson's truck, causing left-front damage to the No. 23 Tundra. The team worked during the caution to fix the damage.

Benson restarted in 32nd and tried to survive the last 112 laps with a battered race truck. When the checkered flag waved, Benson was in the 32nd position, three laps behind race winner Jack Sprague.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has two weeks off before returning to action in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 4.