Faced with compelling decisions about his racing and personal future, Craftsman Truck Series championship leader Johnny Benson will leave Bill Davis Racing at the end of the season, whether or not he wins the crown.

Team owner Davis confirmed Benson's decision in a statement. A BDR spokesman said, with this week's announcement that teenage Sprint Car racer Tayler Malsam had signed a deal to race a BDR Toyota full-time next season, that Davis still hoped to run four trucks in 2009.

"About three or four weeks ago I had a conversation with Bill [Davis] and of course, the folks up at Bill Davis [Racing]," Benson said on Wednesday's Tradin' Paint on Sirius NASCAR Radio. "I'm opting to try and do something different."

"Johnny Benson has been a huge part of our success in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series," Davis' statement said. "Johnny, as well as our other veteran driver, Mike Skinner, have helped us get our NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program where it is today, and I hate to see him go.

"It has been one of the best driver/owner relationships in the garage, winning 14 races and battling for the championship year in and year out. We have enjoyed the last four years together and we want to cap it off by winning the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship."

Benson, 45, who's amassed his 14 career Truck Series wins in the past three seasons driving BDR's No. 23 Toyota, has a six-point edge over defending and three-time Truck Series champ Ron Hornaday with two races left this season, including Friday night's Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix.

Benson took the lead from Hornaday three races ago, by 65 points, but has seen it steadily shrink since, as Hornaday was second at Atlanta and won at Texas.

Benson finished third in the Truck Series a year ago, behind Hornaday and Skinner, but won the Homestead season finale to move from fifth to third in the final points.

Benson, who has five Truck wins this season, won 2006's Phoenix Truck race from the pole position, when he finished second in the championship to Todd Bodine. That season, Benson was 79 points behind Bodine with four races to go, but ultimately lost the title by 127 points. (Continued)