Johnny raced in the American Speed Association (ASA) in 1990, and he earned one pole position, led 174 laps and scored eight top 10 finishes. Benson was named the 1990 American Speed Association (ASA) Rookie of the year. In 1991 he earned 13 top 10’s, four second place finishes and was ranked fourth in the series. Johnny drove the #21 valvoline Chevrolet for Throop Motor Sports in 1993 and claimed the 1993 American Speed Association (ASA) Championship.
Johnny raced in NASCAR’s top three divisions and was very successful in all three of them. He made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in 1993 in Michigan. In 1994 he won his first Nationwide race at “The Monster Mile”( Dover Motor Speedway). He claimed the NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the year honors in 1994. Johnny earned the Nationwide Championship in 1995. His last Nationwide race was in 1995. He has a total of three wins, 35 top tens and 1 pole in his NASCAR Nationwide Series career.
Johnny made his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut in 1996 at the Daytona 500. He was named the 1996 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the year. His first and only Sprint Cup Series win was in 2002 at Rockingham. His final Sprint Cup Series race was in 2007 at Homestead. In his Sprint Cup career he earned a total of 1 win, 58 top tens and two poles.
Johnny shined like a star in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He made his Camping World Truck Series debut in 1995 at Phoenix. His first win was in 2006 at Michigan and his last win in the Truck Series was in 2008 in Martinsville. He claimed the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship in 2008. He was named the 2006, 2007, and 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Most Popular driver. In his Truck series career he earned a total of 14 wins, 87 top tens and 5 poles. In 2009 Benson joined Red Horse Racing, but unfortunately Johnny lost his truck series ride due to a lack of sponsorship.
After losing his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series ride, Johnny began racing in Late model and Super late model events. Even though you haven’t seen Johnny race in NASCAR in awhile, he has still been in the sport coaching some Up and Coming NASCAR Stars. Last year he worked with Trevor Bayne, the 20 year old that this year won NASCAR’s most prestigious event, the Daytona 500.He has worked with Danica Patrick and he has worked with Johanna Long in the Camping World Truck Series. In 2010 Benson served as a mentor to Kyle Busch Motor Sports drivers Brian Ickler and Taylor Malsam.
It has taken more than two years, but Johnny has found a great opportunity that will start his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career again. In 2012 Benson plans to return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Turn One Racing, which features NASCAR Veteran driver Stacy Compton as the team’s owner. His goal is to run the whole season and compete for the championship. Pure Michigan has come on board and will be on the hood of his truck. They have been talking with many great companies in Michigan who have shown a lot of enthusiasm in joining his team. Compton’s team has Cole Whitt, an impressive 20 year old rookie. Benson said he is hoping to join Whitt in the field for a race later this season. If not, look out because Johnny will be ready to race at the season opener at Daytona in Feb. 2012.
Johnny is excited to finally be getting back into a NASCAR Camping World Truck and I am sure all of his race fans are really excited to hear the news that Johnny Benson is coming back to race in the Truck series in 2012. Johnny has not raced in NASCAR in more than 2 years, so don’t be surprised if he struggles a little bit. Race fans: be on the look out for Johnny Benson in the Camping World Truck Series in 2012. Benson is coming back and he is ready to show the young guns of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, that he can still race hard at the age of 48 years old.
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