• Recap
• Bleachers

Benson captures Toyota Tundra 200

Aug 10, 2008 - 5:49 AM LEBANON, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Johnny Benson claimed his place in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series record book Saturday.

Benson became the fifth driver to post three consecutive victories as he captured the Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway.

With the triumph in a Toyota, Benson joined Mike Skinner, Ron Hornaday Jr., Greg Biffle and Todd Bodine as the only drivers to record three straight wins on the circuit. Skinner accomplished the feat in both 1996 and 2007.

"We're having a good year," Benson said. "The last couple of years have been really good."

Seeking his fourth win in five races, Benson passed Erik Darnell with three laps remaining and held on. The series points leader never led prior to his charge past Darnell's Ford.

"I didn't think it was all that possible with 10 (laps) to go," said Benson, who leads Hornaday by 45 points with 10 races left. "It was just real inconsistent. It was a new truck, but I just couldn't get a handle on it."

"We just didn't have the best truck at the end of the race," Darnell said. "I was doing my best to keep Johnny back there, but once he got a little bit of clean air when he got beside me, he was able to make his move. Not taking tires at the end and not making adjustments were the difference."

Darnell held on for second place, finishing 0.889 seconds behind Benson.

"It's frustrating to lose one three laps from the end," Darnell said. "It seems like me and Johnny have had a lot of close battles this year. It was a good run for us."

Pole-sitter Bodine, who led 74 laps, was third in a Toyota, while the Chevrolets of Jack Sprague and Hornaday completed the top five.

"When you're down and come out with a top-five, we'll take that," said Hornaday, who started 12th and was in 14th place at one point in the race. "We've got to do some more (work). That's three for Johnny now, three in a row, and we're going to have to go beat them."