While the on-track antics of Paul Tracy, and the subsequent suspension of the driver have created a headache for the Camping World SRX Series, a cool story has come from Tracy’s ejection from the series.
Johnny Benson Jr., who won the 1995 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, has been added to the driver roster for Thursday’s SRX event at Berlin Raceway.
Benson, who hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Berlin Raceway is located, is excited to get a chance to make his SRX Racing debut at his home track.
“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to race in the SRX series. Not only to compete against some of the best drivers in the country, but to return to my home track, Berlin Raceway,” said Benson in a press release.
Benson, 60, amassed 18 victories in the NASCAR National Series ranks, and scored wins in all three divisions (NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series).
While it’s been a tough week for the Camping World SRX Series, adding a driver the caliber of Benson on short notice speaks volumes to the reach of the series among legends in motorsport. The series is excited to see a warm reaction from the hometown fans of Benson on Thursday.
“It’s not often you have the opportunity to invite a good friend and a multiple different series champion to drive in SRX at his hometown track,” said Don Hawk, SRX Chief Executive Officer. “I believe this announcement will be warmly received by all those great race fans at Berlin Raceway.”
The Camping World SRX Series event at Berlin will take place on Thursday, August 3rd, and will once again be televised by ESPN as part of it’s Thursday Night Thunder Series. The race broadcast for the event will begin at 9:00 PM ET.
The event will consist of two Heat races, which will set the starting lineup for the Main Event.
