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)
