Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Benson returns to the Busch Series in a Dodge

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Veteran driver Johnny Benson, who lost his ride in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series at the end of last season, will drive the No. 1 Phoenix Racing Dodge this season in the NASCAR Busch Series.

Benson, who won the Busch Series championship in 1995 with BACE Motorsports, will replace David Stremme behind the wheel of the Yellow Transportation Dodge.

"I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with Phoenix Racing this season," Benson said. "I am looking forward to being part of a first-class team that has the full support of its sponsor.

"There are a lot of really strong competitors in the Busch series, but I'm up for the challenge. I feel like this is going to be a strong season for all of us and that the No. 1 car will be contending for the championship."

Benson also will drive the No. 09 Dodge in selected Nextel Cup Series races this season for team owner James Finch. Benson is scheduled to attempt to qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500 and the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 7 as well as six other races.

Skinner qualified for the non-points event, which is open to pole winners from the previous season, by capturing the pole at the fall race at Richmond International Raceway for MB2 Motorsports.

Skinner is set to compete fulltime in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season in a Toyota truck that is co-owned by former NASCAR crew chief Larry McReynolds.

"I am fired up about the ride and the race," Skinner said. "I feel we have the ingredients to put on a good show. I'll have a good car, good crew and I like to draft.

"Another positive is that I get along so well with the folks at MB2 and Valvoline -- we hit it off last year and it is sure exciting to come back and race for them again."

Skinner drove in 11 Cup races last season in the No. 01 MB2 entry after the season-ending injury to regular driver Jerry Nadeau. Boris Said, who won the pole last year at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., in the No. 01 car, will drive that car in the Feb. 7 Budweiser Shootout.

This will be Skinner's fifth appearance in the Budweiser Shootout. His best finish was fourth in 1999.

Earnhardt, who has won the past two Busch Series season openers at Daytona, posted Monday's fastest lap at 181.036 mph. Martin Truex, Earnhardt's teammate, was second at 180.346 and Mike Wallace was third fastest at 180.191.

"I'm really proud of Matt," the elder Martin said. "It was an unbelievable debut in the truck, against some really tough competition. Matt drove a heck of a race and made a great pass to retake the lead. It was a great night at Auburndale."

The Fast Kids series is open to drivers between the ages of 12 and 16, and is run in conjunction with the Fastruck Racing Series.