Benson back at Pocono…to test at VIR UPDATE passes test: #10 Valvoline Pontiac driver Johnny Benson and his teammates will test both their road course car and Benson’ health on Tuesday at the Virginia International Raceway. After the road course test the team will go to Pocono International Raceway where Benson makes his return to the NASCAR Winston Cup Circuit. Benson has not raced since he sustained one broken and two cracked ribs in a May 3 Busch Series race at Richmond International Raceway. Benson said he feels better everyday and has no doubts hell be able to race the full 500 miles at Pocono. Jerry Nadeau substituted for Benson during his recovery posting a 28th place finish at Charlotte and a 27th-place finish at Dover.(MBV PR)(6-3-2002) UPDATE: Johnny Benson reported the only pain he felt during his daylong test at Virginia International Raceway Tuesday came when he climbed into and out of the car. Driving on the twisty course was not a problem and shouldn’t be for Pocono this weekend when Benson makes his first appearance in a race car since he broke a rib and cracked two others in a May 3 Busch Series race in Richmond, Va. Joe Nemechek substituted for Benson at Richmond finishing 12th while Jerry Nadeau posted 28th and 27th place finishes at Charlotte and Dover. Benson spent all three races he sat out watching from the team’s pit box with Crew Chief James Ince.(MBV PR)(6-5-2002)
