With interim crew chief Billy Hagerthey again calling the shots, Johnny Benson and his No. 23 team headed to Mansfield Motorsports Speedway with high hopes.

The crew made several necessary changes during the first practice session, and Benson had the 14th-fastest truck. The 360 OTC/TCUV team made some minor adjustments before the final practice session, which vaulted the No. 23 truck to the fourth-fastest time on the speed chart.

Benson's late qualifying draw gave him a great chance to qualify near the front of the field. A quick time of 15.565 seconds placed Benson fourth on the starting grid.

With the rain approaching, Benson knew he would have to make his way to the front of the field fast. He took the second position before the race was halted due to rain on lap 16.

Once the rain ended and the race restarted, Benson retained his position. He pitted under caution on lap 52 for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. The back half of the field opted not to pit, relegating Benson to 26th for the restart.

Benson drove hard to fight his way back to the front, passing several trucks on one of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series' hardest tracks on which to pass. Rain again stopped the race on lap 100.

Benson and his team waited out the lengthy rain delay before resuming action with as much zeal as before. Several cautions made for a long night, but Benson drove smart and picked off positions one by one. He re-entered the top 10 by lap 144 of the 250-lap event. Benson drove his heart out in the remaining laps to finish fifth.

Benson and the rest of the Craftsman Truck Series teams will race Friday night in Dover, Del. The race will be televised live on SPEED.