Johnny Benson News

8/29/1997

8/29/1997

August 29, 1997
Johnny Benson has said he will not be back with Bahari' Racing in 1998, and will most likely join Roush Racing as a fifth entry out of the Roush Racing shops for 1998. Speaking of Roush, the No. 97 car that Roush Racing bought into will become a Ford in 1998, and not

8/26/1997

8/26/1997

August 26, 1997
I hear on a Monday(8-25) night Grand Rapids, Michigan auto racing radio show on WBBL 1340 AM that Jack Roush says that if Johnny Benson can get a release from his current contract with the #30 car, Roush would hire him and build a Ford team around him but he has no

8/25/1997

8/25/1997

August 25, 1997
Rumor is that Cope is the next #43 STP driver. Bobby Hamilton in the #4 and possibly Johnny Benson going to the #25(I doubt the #25 rumor)(8-25-97)

8/25/1997

8/25/1997

August 25, 1997
The Pit Lizards reports to me that Cope may end up in the Washington-Erving Ford and that Johnny Benson will end up with Roush and the team will switch to Fords(8-25-97)

8/24/1997

8/24/1997

August 24, 1997
"One of the hotter rumors sweeping through the garage area yesterday was this: Michigan-based Roush Racing would buy the No. 30 car driven by Johnny Benson and owned by Chuck Rider, bring in Cheerios cereal as a new sponsor and switch the car-make from Pontiac to Ford

8/23/1997

8/23/1997

August 23, 1997
NASCAR2Day also reported that Jack Roush is negotiating to purchase the #30 Pontiac team from present owner Chuck Rider. Johnny Benson would stay with the team. Did not mention sponsor or manufacturer for the team(8-23-97)

8/18/1997

8/18/1997

August 18, 1997
And another announcement: During the rain delay of the DeVilbiss 400, the #97 John Deere Pontiac owner, Greg Pollex was interviewed, the following information was extracted: Jack Roush and Greg Pollex have formed an alliance, called RP Racing, (for Roush-Pollex).

8/15/1997

8/15/1997

August 15, 1997
After Johnny Benson won the pole for the DeViliss 400 at Michigan, ESPN2 interviewed the #30 Pennzoil Pontiac owner, Chuck Rider, and he sure didn't sound like an owner who was losing his sponsor and his driver, I guess we'll see(8-15-97)

8/15/1997

8/15/1997

August 15, 1997
I hear when Roush Racing firms up the #97 team purchase, he will add a second Pontiac team with Johnny Benson as the driver and Wheaties/Cheerios as the sponsor, no idea who will be listed as the owner since Roush owns 3 teams, rules stipulate one person can own two

8/11/1997

8/11/1997

August 11, 1997
"Dale Earnhardt's new Winston Cup team(presently the #14 Burger King Chevy), still in a startup mode, has apparently landed Pennzoil as a sponsor for next season, according to NASCAR sources. Pennzoil has another year remaining on its contract with Chuck Rider and

7/31/1997

7/31/1997

July 31, 1997
Jack Roush "wants to get big in the business, really big," according to one close associate, talking about Roush's plans to expand his WC operation. According to one GM source, Roush might use the Pontiac card to try to leverage NASCAR to OK body changes for the new

7/31/1997

7/31/1997

July 31, 1997
I hear from other sources that Jack Roush may sign Johnny Benson soon for 1998 and the primary sponsor to possibly be a General Mills product to compete with Kellogg's. I have heard Cheerios and Wheaties. Have heard the Benson rumor a week or so ago with Cheerios

7/25/1997

7/25/1997

July 25, 1997
More iRace news: We hear that Jack Roush, has reached a deal to purchase Mark Rypien Motorsports and will field a fourth Cup team in 1998 with Johnny Benson as the driver and Cheerios as the sponsor, contradicts the story that Benson is under contract(7-25-97)

7/23/1997

7/23/1997

July 23, 1997
Reports out of the Corning (NY) Leader said today that several WC and BGN North teams tested at Watkins Glen yesterday. Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Johnny Benson, Jr., Jeff Green and Steve Park were among the

7/19/1997

7/19/1997

July 19, 1997
Chuck Rider says that his Winston Cup team is not for sale, despite persistent rumors. One says sponsor Pennzoil may move on, perhaps to Darrell Waltrip's team. Another says that Johnny Benson might be driving a Jack Roush car next season. ''There is no truth to any