Auto racing briefs: Benson hopes for better fate at Atlanta

Thursday, March 8, 2001 | 8:20 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Although Johnny Benson's team had financial setbacks that forced it to race without sponsorship at times last season, on the track there was only one big bump in the road as he drove to a 13th-place finish in the Winston Cup standings.

Benson hopes to avoid a repeat performance this weekend in the Cracker Barrel 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was the only race Benson missed last year when he was unable to make the field on owner points after rain washed out the second round of qualifying.

There was an upside to that, however. He spent race day away from the track - a rarity among the Sunday warriors of NASCAR.

"I took my daughters out to lunch that day and to a fun park that afternoon," he said. "But I hope the only fun park they are going to get to go to this Sunday is Victory Lane."

Benson certainly isn't short of confidence after a 10th-place finish in Atlanta in November.

"Everyone is pretty enthused around the shop these days," Benson said. "This is the most optimistic I have ever been in my racing career without a doubt."

He has every right to feel that way despite being winless in 164 career starts. Benson has top-five finishes in each of the last two races, and is sixth in the series standings.

ACTING UP: Christian Fittipaldi, a driver with movie star looks and a movie star boss, has no thoughts of becoming an actor.

Fittipaldi, along with former Newman-Haas Racing teammate Michael Andretti, taped an appearance on the Disney Channel's "The Jersey," shown Thursday night.

The episode was filmed Oct. 25, shortly before his last race of the season in Fontana, Calif., "and I won, so I hope the show brings me the same luck at the first race of this season in Mexico since it airs right before the race," Fittipaldi said.

CART opens the 2001 season Sunday in Monterrey, Mexico.

"I definitely have no acting aspirations like my boss, Paul (Newman)," Fittipaldi said. "But being a part of a different world for the shoot was interesting. It was pretty confusing because the real name of the star of the show is Michael (Galeota) and the name of the kid that turned into Michael on the show was Christian (Copelin).

"They kept saying, 'Michael, come here,' or 'Christian, do that,' and none of us knew who they were talking to. I saw a tape of the show and I think it turned out well."

AOL WAITING: Richard Childress says he is looking for a driver to take part in a postponed Winston Cup program with America Online.

The No. 30 AOL car was scheduled to debut Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway with rookie Kevin Harvick at the wheel. Instead, Harvick will be starting his third race in the No. 29 Goodwrench Chevrolet.

Harvick was initially signed by Childress to drive seven races this season and a full schedule in 2002 in the AOL car but was pressed into full-time service after longtime Childress driver Dale Earnhardt was killed in the Daytona 500.