- Benning plans to attempt Daytona 500: In addition to Norm Benning's plans to run the full ARCA schedule in 2009, he is going to make some NASCAR Camping World Truck Series attempts to help pay the bills. "I made seven out of eight Truck races last year, and we'll try as many as we can this year. It helps pay the bills. I still love to race so much, you do what you can. In fact, we're going to attempt to make the Cup race at Daytona and the Truck race, plus the ARCA race. That's why I'm down here in Charlotte. The Cup car I bought is in the chassis dyno."(ARCA Racing)(1-13-2009)
- Benning Will Not Run: #84-Norm Benning, who has unsuccessfully tried to make the Daytona 500 for the past 14 years, didn't get a chance this year. In the past several years, Benning hasn't made a qualifying run and has simply tried to make his way into the field through the 125-mile qualifying races. But to start one of those races, a driver must reach a minimum speed of 172.000mph in practice. Rain wiped out qualifying Sunday, leaving drivers with only one round, and Benning was told late Monday that since he didn't reach his speed before the end of qualifying, he couldn't run in the qualifying races. "I'm devastated," Benning said. "I feel like they changed the rules. I don't know what I did to deserve this. I want to be a part of the NASCAR family, like they say, but I feel like I've been thrown out of the family." Winston Cup director John Darby said Benning had to reach the speed before the end of qualifying, since practice Tuesday was devoted to getting ready for the qualifying races. "It's a process we follow," Darby said.(Daytona Beach News Journal/AP)(2-12-2003)
- No Benning in 1st round: NASCAR.com reports that 50 cars will make a run for the Bud Pole Award for the Daytona 500 on Sunday at 1:15pm/et on Fox. #84-Norm Benning's car was at the speedway but was never approved to get on the track. Benning will have to make an attempt in second round qualifying Monday.(2-8-2002)
UPDATE: since 2nd Round qualifying was canceled due to first round being postponed until Monday, Benning will not be allowed to race in the Twin 125's unless he reaches a NASCAR-determined minimum speed in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday (not sure what that speed is)(2-11-2003)
- Why no Benning? UPDATE: #84-Norm Benning was the only driver of the 30 reporting for testing this week who did not participate Tuesday. He could not go out on the track because he did not bring his head-and-neck restraint. Last season, NASCAR made mandatory the use of head-and-neck restraints for all drivers in its top three series - Winston Cup, Grand National and Trucks.(That's Racin')(1-16-2002)
UPDATE: sources within Benning's team say that Norm Benning also stated that he did not get on the track on Tuesday because he wanted to make sure he absolutely fit all the templates before going on the track. Not because he forgot his head & neck
restraints(1-26-2002)
- Benning to attempt the Daytona 500: Norm Benning has announced plans for a Daytona doubleheader next month. Following his fifth place finish in the season point standings for the ARCA RE/MAX series, Benning has been busy preparing his fleet of Chevrolet Monte Carlos for the upcoming year. One car that isn't requiring much off-season work is his main SoBe Beverages/Tobin's RV & Boat Cleaner superspeedway car. During its most recent on-track appearance, the car was one of the fastest on the track at Talladega before a problem with the passenger-side window forced Norm to pit. Benning did not take part in a recent ARCA RE/MAX Series test at Daytona, opting to take a break and "relax" at home, where he is busy planning a new race shop behind his residence. This month, Benning and crew chief Linda Nicholas will be heading south for a three-day test with the Winston Cup teams. Benning Motorsports will be entering both the ARCA RE/MAX Series season opener on February 10 and the Winston Cup Series' Daytona 500, which will take place on February 17. Benning's plan for 2002 is currently to run the full ARCA RE/MAX schedule, but he continues to explore opportunities in top NASCAR divisions.(Motorsports Fan Report)(1-3-2002)
- Benning to attempt last two Cup races: Norm Benning will attempt to qualify for the final two races of the 2000 Winston Cup season, to be held at Homestead and Atlanta. With backing from his ARCA sponsor SoBe Healthy Beverages, the Benning Motorsports team, led by crew chief Linda Nicholas, will enter a 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in both events(#84). Benning has been in the top 10 in the ARCA Bondo/Mar Hyde Series standings throughout the season, and has announced his return to that series in 2001. "We’ll run the full ARCA schedule again in 2001," says Benning, "and SoBe will be back as our sponsor. We’re looking forward to the new tracks on the schedule. This is what I wanted. I don’t like some of the smaller tracks." Benning also expects to enter several Winston Cup races in 2001, with backing from SoBe. First on his list will be the Daytona 500. "We’ll enter both the ARCA and Winston Cup races at Daytona in February," says Benning. He also may see some additional action at Daytona. "I’ve been asked by Bobby Brown to drive in the 24 Hours of Daytona in a Ferrari," says Benning. "I’m going to test a car at the Carolina Road Course on the 30th and 1st (of November and December, respectively)." Benning’s 2001 season may also include some additional events. "We’re looking at a lot of things next year," he says. "That could include some trucks as well."(Motorsports Fan Report)(11-9-2000)
- Benning to run BGN/BGNN: ARCA and part time Cup driver Norm Benning has announced he will be making a foray into the Busch Series this fall. Benning tested the #68 Busch Grand National North car at NHIS. Benning, of Level Green, PA near Pittsburgh, will drive the car in the 125-lap BGNN on September 16th. The team then plans to enter a handful of BGN races with Benning driving with Dover Downs as a possibility, but looks like Rockingham will be Bennings BGN debut. Benning has never raced in the BGN or BGNN series. Benning has competed in Winston Cup races, and is a regular on the ARCA circuit(currently 8th in ARCA points). Bennings team bought a Monte Carlo from Jimmy Spencer’s BGN team(Motorsports Fans Report)(9-7-2000)
- Benning to Test at Indy: Benning Motorsports will be testing a 2000 Chevy at Indy on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 11 and 12. The car, driven earlier this year by Michael Waltrip, was purchased recently from Ultra Mattei Motorsports for the Brickyard 400. If all goes well with the test, the car will be entered in the Brickyard 400, slated for August 5. Benning has entered one other Winston Cup race this season, the season-opening Daytona 500. Since the ARCA series was also in town, Benning pulled double-duty. His #84 Chevrolet competed in one of the Gatorade Twin 125s, but was unable to record a high enough finish to qualify for the Daytona 500. At Indianapolis, Benning will be focusing exclusively on his Winston Cup effort, hoping to bring a higher level of exposure for sponsor SoBe Healthy Beverages.(Motorsports Fans Report)(7-9-2000)
- Benning at the Brickyard:#84-Norm Benning driver/owner of the #84 Benning Motorsports/SoBe Healthy Beverages Chevy is planning to run the Brickyard 400. Benning he has bought a car from Mattei Motorsports to race at Indy and plans a test session at Indy in early July. Benning attempted to make the Daytona 500 but failed to make the race(Motorsports Fan Report)(6-18-2000)
- Sad News: Ricky Nicholas, pit crew member with Norm Benning's ARCA/CUP team, was killed over the weekend in an offtrack vehicle accident near Huntingdon, PA. He was the son of Rick Nicholas Sr., front tire changer and the nephew of crew chief Linda Nicholas. Services were held in Irwin, PA Tuesday evening(6-1-2000)
- Benning News: #84-Norm Benning will run the full ARCA season and possibly 3-4 Cup races with SoBe as the sponsor. The next planned CUP race is the Winston Open(Winston Cup Scene)(3-8-2000)
- Norm Benning News: Norm Benning Motorsports will attempt to make the Daytona 500 in the #84 Chevy. The team has secured sponsorship from SoBe Beverages (website: www.sobebev.com). This is SoBe's first venture into auto racing. In the past they sponsored bike races and skateboarding. Ace Kolar will crew the car. The Cup car has a Leo Jackson Motor. Benning also plans to run the full ARCA season with SoBe sponsorship with Linda Nicholas as the crew chief. (2-7-2000)
