Benson Wins Season Finale, But Hornish Claims The Championship

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By Deb Williams

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 16, 2007) – A green-white-checker finish in Friday night's Ford 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season finale provided Johnny Benson with his fourth victory this season, while giving Ron Hornaday his third series championship.

Hornaday, who has competed in the Truck series since its inception in 1995, is now tied with Jack Sprague in the number of titles on the circuit. He won his first two championships in 1996 and 1998 while driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. His third championship is the first for team owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick.

“This is an unbelievable year,” Hornaday said after his championship celebration in victory lane. “Any other year there would have been about 400 points in the points lead, but coming down here, as tough as (Mike) Skinner was and their team, made us drive that much harder, made (crew chief) Rick Ren turn grayer, and made it that much harder. It made our whole team excel. When we unloaded we had to have our best equipment there, and Rick Ren stepped up to the plate.”

Ren said he didn't know what to say about winning the championship.

“I mean, it's what everybody wants to talk about,” Ren continued. “It's what everybody's dream is. Actually, to put it all together and make it happen is like, just unbelievable. You've got a bunch of young guys and you try to mold them and teach them (that) if you just believe in what we tell you to do, if you'll just do that, it'll all work out.”

Entering Homestead, only 29 points separated standings leader Skinner and Hornaday. However, on lap 25, Skinner's bid for his second championship began to sour. While leading, Skinner suddenly slowed his Toyota off turn 4, believing he had a flat right-front tire. He pitted on lap 26 and received fresh right-side tires, but lost a lap in the process.

Then, on lap 75, Skinner's title hopes were destroyed. He had slowed the previous lap with a vibration, and as he headed for pit road, his truck's left-rear wheel flew off between turns 3 and 4, ending his championship dreams in Toyota's 100th race in the series. Two wheel studs were broken during the mishap, preventing Skinner's crew from tightening the lug nuts to secure a new wheel and tire. The damage forced Skinner to take his truck to the garage where his crew changed the left rear hub. Another 10 laps were lost and so was the championship.

"We changed right-side tires, but that didn't fix it," Skinner said. "Eventually, the hub just came apart."

The mechanical problem left Skinner 35th in the rundown, 11 laps off the pace and 54 points behind Hornaday.

“I hate to see it for Mike, but only one of us could win it,” said Hornaday, who finished seventh, the last truck on the lead lap.

While the championship battle fizzled, Kyle Busch was setting the pace at the front. By the time the race concluded, Busch had led three times for 69 laps. However, it was Benson who benefited from the green-white-checker finish.

When Chris Jones' spin on lap 133 extended the race four laps beyond its posted 134-lap distance, Benson was given a shot at victory and he took advantage of the opportunity. On the final lap at the 1.5-mile track, Benson dispensed with Busch, then held on for a 0.60-second victory. Rounding out the top five, respectively, were Rick Crawford, Harvick and Jason Leffler.

With his victory, Benson finished third in the point standings, followed by 2006 champion Todd Bodine and Crawford. Travis Kvapil, who possessed third when the race began, fell to sixth due to a 21st-place finish.

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