By MIKE HARRIS
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — A two-tire stop and a late decision to stay on track during a caution period were just enough to give Johnny Benson the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title by seven points over Ron Hornaday on Friday night in a race that went to overtime.
Todd Bodine won the Ford 200, but all eyes were on the championship contenders as Hornaday tried desperately to make up ground after falling behind in the pits during the final caution at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Benson, who came into the race with a three-point lead, finished seventh, one position ahead of Hornaday after the dramatic green-white-checker finish.
"Tonight was tough," Benson said. "Tonight was about (crew chief) Trip Bruce and making the calls he did. ... Trip said early on we might not be the fastest, but it was going to be the smartest one that won it. And that's what it came down to — Trip's calls."
Benson wins title; Bodine takes race....
Talladega, AL (Sports Network) - Todd Bodine passed Kyle Busch for the lead coming out of the final turn of the last lap and then held off Ron Hornaday, Jr. to win Saturday's Mountain Dew 250 Craftsman Truck Series race at the Talladega Superspeedway.
The victory was Bodine's second of the season and the 14th of his Truck Series career. It was also his third consecutive superspeedway win. Bodine won in February at Daytona and last year's race at Talladega.
"Going down the back straightaway, I was thinking I'll just finish second here," Bodine said. "I pushed Kyle Busch down there, tried to get him to win. We came off of turn four and I hit him, got him sideways and I had to go down the side, and then I had a buddy behind me, Ron Hornaday. He was back there, and he came back and pushed me and here we are."
Bodine wins thrilling truck race at Talladega....
