The Kroger 250 will mark Johnny Benson's 12th Camping World Truck Series start at Martinsville Speedway. In 11 previous races, he has earned one win, three top-five and five top-10 finishes. He has logged 2222 laps around Martinsville's tight corners including 46 laps led. Benson also has a total of 30 starts at Martinsville Speedway in Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Series competition.
When the Camping World Truck Series last visited Martinsville Speedway, Benson earned his first win at the Virginia "paperclip" shaped short track. That win gave Benson and his team the momentum they needed in a tight points battle until the very end when Benson was crowned the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion.
Benson and the #1 Red Horse Racing team plan to carry the momentum from their first top-10 finish of the season two weeks ago on the sweeping corners of Atlanta to the tight turns of Martinsville Speedway. Bringing home a ninth place finish at Atlanta moved Benson up seven spots in the driver point standings; he now sits it the 12th position.
Benson on racing at Martinsville Speedway "Martinsville has been a good track for me so we look for this weekend to be a good one for us. Last year we had a truck to win both races but sometimes it doesn't work out that way. Winning at Martinsville last fall was really cool. I have run well there in the past but that was my first win there so it was special. That win really gave us the extra confidence we needed, especially in such a tight battle for the Championship."
Champion Crew Chief Trip Bruce on Martinsville Speedway "I really like racing at Martinsville Speedway. I have won there twice, once with Johnny last fall and once with Jamie McMurray in 2004. Last year we raced the same truck for both races. The first race we were leading with just a few laps to go and got spun out by Kyle Busch. When the fall race came we brought the same truck back and ran well with it. On the last stop we took four tires, instead of two or just gas like some guys did and it ended up being the difference for us. It was great to get that win after feeling like the track owed us one from the spring"
Equipment Information The #1 Red Horse Racing team will compete with chassis # 137 in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. The chassis Benson raced to a win in the fall race was totaled just a few weekends later in Phoenix. In the off season the team built a new truck just like the old chassis. This weekend will be its first race.
Series Champion Seeks Sponsorship Partner
The reigning 2008 Camping World Series Champion is still seeking sponsorship for his No.1 Tundra. Red Horse Racing is currently running both the #1 Toyota Tundra driven by defending Champion Johnny Benson as well as the #11 driven by TJ Bell, without primary sponsorship. For more information on sponsorship opportunities either the #1 or the #11 please contact Tom DeLoach at 704-662-0039.
