Benson sets unofficial track record at LVMS

Friday, Feb. 2, 2001 | 10:15 a.m.

Johnny Benson not only has a new sponsor for the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season, he now has an unofficial track record under his belt.

Benson turned a lap in 31.14 seconds (173.376 mph) in his No. 10 Valvoline-sponsored Pontiac during Thursday's NASCAR open test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Benson's lap was the fastest of the 25 Winston Cup drivers who tested here this week and bettered Ricky Rudd's official track record of 172.562, set during qualifying for last year's Winston Cup race at LVMS.

"I'm not surprised that we were quick, but I'm surprised that we were that quick," Benson said. "That time came in the morning session and the weather was perfect.

"I'm not sure we could run that at two or three in the afternoon when we'll be qualifying. Obviously, we're pretty happy with that time."

After all Winston Cup teams had completed testing this week, Benson's time stood atop the chart and was followed by Todd Bodine's lap of 171.592, set on Wednesday. Rusty Wallace was third fastest at 170.347; Elliott Sadler was fourth at 169.833; and Michael Waltrip was fifth at 169.811.

Andy Houston (169.242), Jerry Nadeau (169.136), Joe Nemechek (169.104), Mark Martin (168.887) and Robert Pressley (168.644) rounded out the top 10.

Mike Wallace was the only other driver to test a Winston Cup car Thursday in preparation for the March 4 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at LVMS. He posted a time of 31.93 seconds (169.114 mph).

Todd Bodine, who was testing for Buckshot Jones, put up the best testing time of the 10 NASCAR Busch Series teams that were testing Thursday for the March 3 Sam's Town 300.

Bodine's lap in 31.95 seconds (169.002 mph) was the fastest time among all Busch Series cars that tested here this week.

The five-day test ends today with six Busch Series teams completing their second day of testing. There will be no Winston Cup teams testing today.