Which car (or truck) do you think of when you hear the name Johnny Benson? If you like these videos hit thumbs up and subscribe to see the next one sooner! Stapletonautoworks.com
Grew up 2 miles from the Benson's, same grade school, high school etc. His sister Barb and I were good friends (same grade). John Sr. would weld up our dirt bikes when we busted them up. Up until late teens spent every Saturday at Berlin Raceway watching his dad then Johnny. Then, of course, cheered him on through his ASA and NASCAR career. Very proud of our hometown kid!
Johnny was the 1st guy I knew to make it big in Nascar from Mich. Always pulled for him in every series he raced. Always joked that Johnny was to nice of a guy, he could of won a hell of a lot more if he'd just give a guy a little bumper to get by but thats not how Dad raced and thats not how Johnny races. Class act family thru and thru. Awsome video! Thank you MUCH👍
DON'T STOP doing videos like this. People like Johnny Benson Jr are very rare these days. He had no problem giving you a tour of his family's legacy and telling it like it was for him from a very young age. Many people of that era just loved to built things because it was the thing that people loved to do. My dad taught me how to weld at age 10. He said: "Go find some junk out back of the garage and I will teach you how to weld." I took that pile of car parts, painted it and took it to school for "art class". I won first place beating the local university art professor. He offered to buy my "art" for $25. For a kid in 1965 that was a fortune. Ten years after that I had a business building headers for the local stock car guys. You are never to old to learn.
Johnny Benson is such a great guy. Always enjoyed watching him race and on Inside Winston Cup. Yes please do more videos with Johnny. Such a skilled guy and very down to earth.
Yeah these guys were real winners, raced with little to nothing and were still kicking butt. Weren't whiners or show boats that we have today in all series.
These are the guys I respect! Johnny is a grass roots racer , he’s done it all and understands every dynamic of a race car , plus has built every thing himself . Would have loved to have seen Him in one of the better teams , he had the talent ! Loved the 10 Valvolene car it was a ripper ! Thanks again to you and Logan of highlighting the greatest era of NASCAR , back when drivers earned their ticket to the top level !!
Most definitely. I'm from the Darlinton, S C. area. Darlington was the first supersppedway, but short tracks were it. I wish they still were, better racing. People didn't get killed in short track racing, like the bigger ones.
I grew up about 5 miles from the Benson speed shop. I used to ride my bike over to the shop just to catch a glimpse of what was going on there. I was a John Sr fan having watched him at Berlin for years. Later in my teens I was on a pit crew for a local racer who Sadly lost his life at Auto City speedway. We ran against Johnny Jr but I always admired him. I watched a NASCAR race at Richmond from Johnny's pit stall. Great video and great memories
Johnny's win at Rockingham is a feel-good clip that always brings me out of a funk. He's another case of the stats not reflecting the talent at least at the Cup level. That #10 Valvoline Grand Prix always stood out in a crowd. This video is a stellar follow up to the IROC festivities. Thank you guys for another golden nugget of racing history!
@@QuietDriver97 Well said man. If there were a list of those whos cup stats don’t reflect talent level he’s on it. Interesting that several of those guys who got the short end of the stick in cup absolutely tore up the truck series.
I’m 63 now. Think it kind of remarkable, how familiar many of these shops and stories seem, even for not having ever been there. Must be the flavor of things back in the day…
This was absolutely FASCINATING. Im a supermod guy, so a lot of those stories "fill in blanks" of things I'd heard about for years. And that Charlie Swartz story is PRICELESS. Great job!
Oh yeah, some old dirt late model guys would be a good run of videos. It would have been great to have the stories and talking to the Flintstone Flyer Mike Duvall before he passed. There are tons of older dirt legends. Too many have gone and those racing stories weren't or have yet to be preserved sad to say. CL Pritchett Buck Simmons Freddie Smith Jack Pennington Spiderman Bill Morgan Rex Richey HotRod Lamance Ernest Steifel Fulmer Lance Ed Basey CJ Rayburn Booper Bare Buddy Morris Charlie Swartz and the mid engine wedge
Great film. Born in Grand Rapids, My father took me to Berlin Raceway when i was growing up. Started in 69 i was 9 at the time. Brings back many memories. We had a nieghbor that had a speed shop for awhile on S. division ave. in Grand Rapids and he also ran at Berlin. Watched Johnny Benson Sr. win races forever, with all the other big names at the time, still have all the souvenir programs from then. Followed Benson Jr. throughout his career into Nascar. wish he would have stayed longer. Berlin raceway and Kalamazoo speedway where the 2 tracks we would attend. Great times!
Class Act! Well done Mitchell! Despite being a huge Earnhardt fan, I will never forgot Johnny leading at Daytona (2000?) hoping he would be able to win it!
You asked for comments from people who watched your video. I watched the entire video, and I loved it! My first race fan experience would have been at Berlin Raceway, with my dad and my brother, and always rooting for John Benson Sr. Then following Johnny Jr. as he had so much success at Berlin, and moved to ASA, and then to the NASCAR world. It was just so special seeing a 'local' guy make it in the big time.
Man does Johnny ever age, I remember him driving the no. 10 and he doesn't look and different must be good jeans and good livin. Another great video, Thanks Y'all!
I’m born and raised in Grand Rapids. I’ve always been a Johnny Benson fan. Alot of history with the Bensons and Sennekers. My father in law grew up around them and tells some funny stories about the Sennekers. The Speedrome was another local track before Berlin.
One thing is consistent with that generation of racers. When you hired the driver you also received a master mechanic, fabricator, engineer, etc. You don’t see that around pavement racing garages today. I really enjoy these videos and the appreciate the effort both Logan and you put in to making them.
I became a fan of Johnny's during SpeedWeeks of 2000. What a great performance in the unsponsored Tyler Jet car, then being in position to win the 500! His win at The Rock in '02 I still remember well, and of course the truck championship in '08. It was really cool to find out how hands-on he was, and still is to this day. Thanks for doing this one!
I absolutely loved this video!! I always liked Johnny & mainly remember him driving the #10 Valvoline car! I think he was one of the most underrated drivers in NASCAR!!! He was an amazing driver & always seemed to be an amazing person also!! I also looked forward to watching Johnny, Allen Bestwick, Michael Waltrip & Ken Schrader on their show Inside Winston Cup Racing on the SPEED Channel!! It was always entertaining & fun to watch!! Thanks again for such an incredible video!!
42:30 Johnny's Dad has the right idea on weight saving. I heard this saying "an ounce of weight is worth a pound of performance", in regard to racing and it always stuck in my mind.
I always liked JB he is smart about building race cars this was great to see this,, you and Logan do a great job he reminds me of Alan kulwicki building his own stuff from the ground up
What a great guy, I met him in Atlanta in the garage and he was walking by and I said if I walk with you can I get a picture and he said walk he stopped and we had a great conversation. Great guy.
ASA raced on the half-mile at the Minnesota State Fair for a number of years (until 2002) and on the road course at the Brainerd International Raceway (1993 through 1995). After one of the Brainerd races, I was taking some pictures in the pits. I asked Johnny Benson if I could get one of him with his car. The rear of the car was jacked up and Johnny said "let me get it off the jack so it looks like a race car." As a young person, I was impressed with that and so Johnny Benson became my favorite driver as he moved on to the Busch Series and the Winston Cup series. I always liked his quiet demeanor unlike some drivers who seemed to be quite cocky and full of themselves. (This was another enjoyable and educational video. Even though Johnny was "my" driver, I knew little of his background and upbringing. It was fun to follow him around the shops today.)
This video was another absolutely awesome trip back in time and seeing ALL the equipment and buildings they have is fascinating. I really thought it was cool to see the ASA body panels in the attic, especially with the TNN decal on it!! Thanks Mitchell and Logan
Good ol mom is worried about the upstairs being messy in a race shop. You two are making such killer content and contacts as you go. I think you'll keep getting doors opened to you because as the more people see you're product and the respect and curiosity you both show makes the folks more at ease and will tell others that they I did a video with this fella and his gal and they were great we need to get them together with you. keep doing what you're doing we'll keep watching and supporting ya
17:05 awesome seeing the thunderbird sign. I grew up a few miles away and would hear the cars echoing every weekend. Awesome video guys. Growing up in West Mi Johnny was the local guy to root for in nascar. I remember a local lube shop kept the a cutout of Johnny in their shop for years.
You were in my hood! Well, old hood. I live about an hour away, but used to drive by there all the time on my way to class or work. Johnny Benson seams like one of the nicest fellers. Dude still shows up to race at Berlin once or twice a year. Thank you so much for the Michigan stock car history. Would love to see you do more on Michigan racing history. Anything from the 1948 Cadillac that raced in NASCAR to the Gold Cup power boat races in Detroit.
I was born in Kalamazoo, MI. My dad lived in Grand Rapids on Brenton rd. In the 1990's he owned all the Great Lakes Car Washes. I was always a big Johnny Benson fan, but never knew he lived in Grand Rapids!!!
One of my favorite drivers and a fellow Michigander. My favorite memory of Benson was probably his run in the 1996 Brickyard 400. Led a ton of laps that day as a rookie.
Yes ! This man won the Busch championship came back won the truck championship won under crazy circumstances in cup in one of the most historic races of all time. He should be in the hall of fame ! Nice guys do finish first
What another banger of an interview/tour of the past. Stories like these are what made the sport more than drviing in circles on sunday afternoon. Imagine 30 years from now they go interview Ty Gibbs; "Granpa had a race team and I got the gig...... *crickets*"
Great story . My Dad ran super modified back in the sixties. We lived in Lansing so an hour away. I watched Johnny when he was younger around mid Michigan. Followed him through asa.. Nascar and always loved it. Local hero for us in mid Michigan.
Johnny and his dad ran super modifieds at Sandusky Speedway and Lorain County Speedway in northern Ohio. I watched Johnny Jr. run those tracks many times and he still does. Always a top competitor and great guy that takes the time to talk to his fans.
As a Holland Michigan resident Berlin is my local track and a fan of Johnny. When he was unsponsored and leading Daytona I was jumping up and down so proud of our local driver.
I live a couple miles from Berlin and have raced with them and spent HOURS talking while leaning on a car...Sr isn't a man of many words, but when he talks everyone listens. Jr is much the same way. We've rubbed elbows with some of the best in our lifetimes just being different places and racing things.
This interview is just amazing , reminds of me hanging out and watching on my dads race car at home my let me start welding at the age of 7 I just really appreciate all these videos thank you both for all the time and effort
When I hear Johnny Benson's name, the image of the yellow Penzoil car with the rear bumper on the ground at talladega, pops in my mind. Always liked that man. Great video!
Johnny Benson is one of those old-school guys that you just can’t help but love and respect! Thank you for your tireless dedication Mitchell and Logan! Y’all make my entertainment so enjoyable and valuable (and educational). 😁👊💪
