Toyota powerplants in the Truck Series have proven they can go the distance more than once. (Charles Krall/TruckSeries.com Photo)

The results show that the second time is as good as the first. Gateway winner Johnny Benson has scored back-to-back victories with Toyota engines that had been run in an earlier race. Toyota began phasing in the "used engine" program at mid-season.

Said Laerte Zatta, Toyota's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Manager, "We were using used engines at a lot of the tests but wanted to be confident that they would hold up for a second race before we gave them to the team. We're comfortable with the engines to last about 800 miles and so far we've been pleased with the results."

Zatta added that only routine maintenance - changing valve springs and checking performance on a dyno - is necessary during the 800-mile cycle.

"We're able to offer a discounted price to the teams for the engines," he said.

Benson praised both the concept and performance.

Johnny Benson drove his 'used' Toyota to victory at Gateway International Raceway. (VPS Motorimages Photo)

"We'll run them more than one race before they rebuild them and it should be that way," he said following his third victory of the 2007 season. "I think it's good for the sport for us to be able to do that. And if other teams aren't doing that, hopefully they'll see that we're doing it … because it definitely cuts some costs.

"With sponsorships hard to get nowadays, you have to try to cut costs somewhere so we really have to say 'thanks' to the engine builders because they do a tremendous job up there."

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Director Wayne Auton guessed that prior to Benson's Bristol victory a two-race engine hadn't won a series race since the 1998 season.

"It's a win-win situation," said Auton. "The engine performs extremely well and it's definitely cost effective for the owners."

Bill Davis Racing teammate Ryan Mathews qualified eighth on a two-race engine and was headed for a top-10 finish before a final lap accident.

Germain Racing's Ted Musgrave matched his best finish of the season - third - with an engine that was on its third outing. Michael Waltrip Racing's Josh Wise nabbed his first series top-10 with a three-race power plant.

HT Motorsports' Terry Cook and Wyler Racing's Jack Sprague exited the Ram Tough 200 with engine failures; however, their units had not previously been used in competition.

SOURCE: NASCAR Communications