The 2006 Casino Arizona 150 Truck Race

From first to worst and back to first again summed up Johnny Benson’s fifth The 2006 Ford F-150

victory of the season Friday night in the Casino Arizona 150 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Benson, who’d earlier in the day set a new qualifying record of 132.660 mph, didn’t make a lap before losing the air off his Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota and spinning in Turn 3.

Fortunately, there was no contact and Benson was able to pit and restart in the 35th and last position.

From there the former NASCAR Busch Series champion methodically worked his way back through the field and by lap 100 had closed to the tailgate of Mark’s leading Scotts Ford.

The pair battled fiercely until the 121st lap when Benson stuck the nose of his Toyota under Mark’s left flank and grabbed the lead as the pair exited the backstretch dogleg.

He held on through the final three of a race record 11 cautions to edge Mark by .429 second – about two truck lengths. Benson’s first victory since September in New Hampshire was worth $54,025. He averaged 86.221 mph as caution consumed 43 of the race’s 150 laps.

“I couldn’t believe the thing would spin. I thought it would stick,” said Benson of the first lap incident while racing Bill Davis Racing teammate Mike Skinner, the outside front row starter. “I felt like we could get back into the top 10 then a top five would be reasonable.

“We picked up five spots on pit road and it kept getting better and better. We had a great fight with Mark. He was loose; I was loose and it benefited the guy on the backside.”

Mark, who narrowly missed a sixth season victory saluted his adversary.

“Well, Johnny earned it,” said Mark. “Our strong suit was long green flags. We got that early but we didn’t get it late.”

Benson’s recovery staved off elimination from the championship chase – at least for a week. At one point, he trailed leader Todd Bodine by more than a clinching 191 points. By evening’s end, however, the margin was down to 112 from a previous deficit of 137.

Bodine started third and finished his Lumber Liquidators Toyota fourth a spot behind Skinner’s Toyota Tundra Toyota. Any finish of 28th or better will give Bodine his first NASCAR national touring series crown.

The race saw nine lead changes among six drivers. Mark headed the most laps – 82 of the 150.

Matt Crafton’s Menards/Energizer Chevrolet completed the top five finishers after battling Mark for the lead during the first quarter of the race. Former race winners David Starr and Jack Sprague were sixth and seventh followed by David Reutimann, Kyle Busch and Raybestos Rookie of the Year leader David Reutimann.

Just three trucks failed to finish matching the track record for fewest DNFs in a race.

The 2006 finale, the Ford 200, will take place next Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.