Nobody can accuse Benson of leaving anything on the table in his last-ditch bid to overhaul championship leader Bodine.

At Phoenix, Benson won his first Budweiser Pole since 1996 but spun out on the first lap of the Casino Arizona 150 and restarted 35th on the field.

Benson's comeback wasn't unprecedented but come back he did, passing Mark Martin (No. 6 Scotts Ford) on the 121st lap to regain the lead and drive to his fifth victory of the season.

Benson, who went 0-for-59 before scoring his first win in his native Michigan in June, posted his fifth victory of the season and matched Martin's series-leading total.

Benson could only wonder what might have been and look ahead to 2007.

"This team has proven to be a championship caliber squad. We have done all we can do and that is all I can ask," he said. "Two mechanical failures late in the season have hurt our chances at the championship."

"(Crew chief) Rick Ren and all the guys should hold their heads high knowing we have had a great season. I am already looking forward to next year and seeing if we can vie for the championship again."