Benson plans to race in Coca-Cola 600

RICHMOND, Va. -- Johnny Benson was out of the hospital and back at the track Sunday, sore but excited to be out of the bed and on pit road.

	Johnny Benson

“I’m pretty sore and pretty stiff, but all that goes with a good wreck,” said Benson, who was injured in the Busch Series event Friday night and subsequently forced out of the Pontiac Excitement 400.

MBV Motorsports team manager Jay Frye said that he didn't expect Benson would return in time for the Winston Open in Charlotte two weeks from now. Benson won The Winston Open in 2001.

He did, however, say he plans to be back in the No. 10 Valvoline Pontiac in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.

“We’ll be running Charlotte. Absolutely,” he said.

Benson was injured in an accident on lap 23 of Friday’s Hardee’s 250, when he got together with rookie Brian Vickers. Benson was taken the infield care center and administered x-rays and a CAT Scan, where it was discovered he has bruised ribs and a possible concussion.

He was then transferred via ambulance to Memorial Regional Medical Center, where a CAT Scan proved negative on his head, but further x-rays revealed he’d broken the ninth rib on his right side.

“Is there anything bigger than a Mack truck?” joked Benson. “It was either bigger than a Mack truck, or he hit me, then backed up, too.”