Johnny Benson Jr. won Saturday night’s Todd Senneker Memorial Race, beating Randy Sweet in a grueling 75-lap shootout at the Berlin Raceway in Marne, MI. It was the second win for Benson at his home track in less than a year since he also won a special event this past August. Sweet, a five-time Berlin track champion, took the lead away from Benson in lapped traffic on lap 49. However, Benson used the lapped car of Dick Trickle to reclaim the lead for good on lap 56. “Obviously, our thoughts are with the Senneker family, and my teammate, Jerry Nadeau. I just feel really fortunate to be able to come here and do something that I really love to do. We have two more races to go this season, and I’m looking forward to them,” Benson said. Benson made his first of three Berlin appearances this weekend. He will return for the June 10 shootout in a field that will include defending Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart. In addition, he will race in Marne on June 28. Todd Senneker was killed in a snowmobiling accident in Feb. of 2002. Saturday’s races also served as a fund raiser for the Todd Senneker Memorial Foundation, and the event raised $5,000. Senneker was the 2001 Berlin Sportsman Rookie of the Year, and the foundation awards a college scholarship to a graduating senior at Wayland High School, where he graduated. His brother, Terry Senneker Jr., found himself without a ride this season, however, his cousin, Rick Senneker, turned his car over to Terry for the race. Terry finished 12th overall.( Michigan Live )(5-11-2003)
