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John Sommers II/Getty Images
Kyle Busch led early but an untimely caution put him deep in the field.

Benson takes Kentucky, points lead; Busch sixth

Annett finishes a career-high second in just third start

By Tim Tuttle, Special to the Sporting News Wire Service
July 21, 2008
12:02 PM EDT
type size: + -

SPARTA, Ky. -- Johnny Benson made a daring four-wide pass to take the lead with 32 laps remaining and cruised on to victory Saturday night in the Built Ford Tough 225 Craftsman Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway (watch video).

Benson was third behind Bill Davis Racing teammate Michael Annett and Dennis Setzer for the restart on Lap 119 of 150 on the 1.5-mile track. Chad Chaffin was the top truck a lap down on the inside.

John Sommers II/Getty Images

Official Results

Built Ford Tough 225
Pos. Driver Make
1. Johnny Benson Toyota
2. Michael Annett Toyota
3. Matt Crafton Chevrolet
4. Dennis Setzer Dodge
5. David Starr Toyota
6. Kyle Busch Toyota
7. Mike Skinner Toyota
8. Terry Cook Toyota
9. Marc Mitchell Toyota
10. Ron Hornaday Chevrolet

"I had a tremendous run off Turn 2 and got alongside [Setzer]," Benson said. "We both had good runs on [Annett], and we made a made dash to the corner [Turn 3]. I expected [Setzer] to turn left, and he did and I had to turn left. I had the best spot.

"This track is extremely difficult to pass on. I think we had one of the few trucks able to hug the bottom, and that was a key to winning."

Benson won his second truck race of the season and moved into the points lead by one point on Matt Crafton, who finished third.

Annett, in his third start in the series, was second, .475 seconds behind Benson. Annett, 22, finished sixth and 11th in his previous two starts.

Annett ran solidly in the top 10 for most of the race. He was sixth when the lead-lap trucks made their final pit stops on Lap 115, with Benson leading the field down pit road.

Annett's crew chief, Doug Wolcott, decided to take two tires, and it vaulted Annett into the lead as most trucks, including Benson and Crafton, took four.

"He made a great call and got us out front," Annett said. "Track position was everything. I was surprised how good a run Johnny got, but he's a veteran and he knows how to do that. I saw the red on his hood, and the spotter said, 'Four wide,' and then there was a crash behind us.

"It was pretty cool finishing second."

Setzer finished fourth and David Starr fifth. Kyle Busch passed Mike Skinner at the finish for sixth.

Busch's Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota led laps 37 to 49, relinquishing the lead to make his first pit stop. He was on pit road when the caution came out. Busch got the Lucky Dog and was able to regain the lead lap, but he restarted from the back of field and never was able to return to the front.

Busch was 13th, with a truck banged up in the multitruck crash on Lap 119 (watch video), for the final restart with 29 laps remaining and charged to sixth, beating Skinner to the line by .032 seconds.

Busch was attempting to become the first driver in NASCAR history to win consecutive races in each of the three national series.

The End

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Craftsman Truck Series

Official Standings
Pos. +/- Driver Points Behind
1. +3 Johnny Benson 1881 --
2. -- Matt Crafton 1880 -1
3. -2 Ron Hornaday 1876 -5
4. +1 Rick Crawford 1789 -92
5. +1 Mike Skinner 1780 -101
6. -3 Todd Bodine 1770 -111
7. +2 Terry Cook 1695 -186
8. -1 Erik Darnell 1681 -200
9. -1 Jack Sprague 1675 -206
10. +1 Dennis Setzer 1654 -227

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