Benson Wins Third Straight Race at Milwaukee

Johnny Benson won the pole then went on to win the Camping World RV Sales 200 race Friday night at The Milwaukee Mile before a sparse crowd

Ronda Greer for NASCAR

Johnny Benson won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at The Milwaukee Mile for the third straight year Friday night, taking the Camping World RV Sales 200.

Benson's victory from the pole position in the Bill Davis Racing Toyota was his first of the season and 10th of his NCTS career — all coming in the past three seasons. He entered the race leading the points and expanded his advantage to 50 over Todd Bodine.

"It feels great," Benson said. "I could do almost anything I wanted. That last set of tires was awesome. This is way cool. I can't believe we won three in a row."

Benson led the final 53 laps and won by 2.5 seconds over Matt Crafton's ThorSport Racing Chevrolet. Landon Cassill, making his fifth start in the series, finished third in the Morgan-Dollar Motorsports Chevrolet. Erik Darnell's Roush Fenway Racing Ford was fourth and Bodine's Germain Racing Toyota fifth. Michael Annett, making his first start in the series, was sixth in a Bill Davis Racing Toyota.

Rick Crawford rallied from 16th, the tail end of the longest line, to eighth in the final 56 laps. Crawford's Circle Bar Racing Ford led when the caution came out for light rain on Lap 146. On radar, it didn't appear more precipitation was coming, and so the lead lap trucks pitted.

Benson entered in third, took four tires and fuel, and exited in first. Crafton, also taking four tires and fuel, maintained second and Crawford fell to third, followed by Cassill and Darnell. However, Crawford's truck was detected speeding and had to go to the tail end of the longest line for the next restart.

Shortly thereafter, NASCAR red-flagged the race for lightning, but there was no rain. The grandstands were cleared with 50 of the 200 scheduled laps remaining.

The race restarted 26 minutes later on Lap 155 and Benson went unchallenged to the checkered flag in a run that was interrupted by one caution.

Benson started from pole with Crawford on the outside of the front row. Crawford jumped into the lead for the opening three laps before Benson passed him and began pulling away during an extended green flag run. He had a 3.3-second advantage over Crawford after 70 laps.

Most of the field had made it through pit stops under green when the caution came out on Lap 78. Benson had just made his stop and was pulling out. Because of the timing of the caution, only seven trucks remained on the lead lap.

Benson was the leader, but was in the middle of the pack with many trucks in front on the lead lap. Crawford managed to stay in front of Benson and regained track position when the caution came out on Lap 96.

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