CIA Stock Photos
The Toyota Certified Used Vehicles logo Johnny Benson’s No. 23 Toyota carries on its flanks could just as well describe the horsepower under the Tundra’s hood.
Benson, winner of the Sept. 1 Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 at Gateway International Raceway, went to Victory Lane for the second race in a row powered by a two-race engine. He also won at Bristol.
It’s believed that hasn’t happened since the series’ infancy in the late 1990s.
Benson says it’s business as usual for Bill Davis Racing. “We’ll run them more than one race before they rebuild them and it should be that way, ” he said. “I think it’s good for the sport for us to be able to do that.
“And if the other teams aren’t doing that, hopefully they’ll see us doing it … because it definitely saves costs. ”
Laerta Zatta, Toyota’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series manager, says the engines are rated for 800 miles and require normal maintenance within the cycle. “We’re able to offer a discounted price to the teams, ” he said.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Director Wayne Auton called it “a win-win situation. The engine performs well and it’s cost-effective for the owners. ”
