Benson preps for title run with skydive in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS -- What does the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points leader do in Las Vegas? If you're Johnny Benson, you take to the air because you've already shown what you can do on the racetrack with your driving skills.

Fast Facts

What	Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350
When	9:30 p.m. ET Saturday
TV	SPEED, 9 p.m. ET
Radio	MRN (Sirius Ch. 28), 9 ET

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Benson, driver of the Bill Davis Racing No. 23 Toyota, learned the art of skydiving and the difference between G-forces on the racetrack compared to the gravitational pull of the flight chamber at Vegas Indoor Skydiving on Friday.

"[Friday] was a lot of fun," said Benson, after visiting the Vegas Indoor Skydiving flight tunnel. "This is a little different than what we do in the Tundra. It's basically a wind tunnel stood on its end. At first, you have to have an instructor to hold you until you figure out how to steer and not fly out of the air stream. It's not easy, but definitely a lot of fun and a cool experience. I'd love to come back and do it enough to where I could do it on my own -- I think that part would be cool."

The current leader in the NCTS championship point standings, Benson has four wins this season, capturing the checkered flag at Milwaukee, Kentucky, Indianapolis and Nashville. In addition, the 45-year-old driver has registered three pole positions, 12 top-five finishes, 14 top-10 results and has led 426 laps in the season's first 18 races.

The Grand Rapids, Mich., native was the series points runner-up in 2006 and ended last year third in the final championship standings. In 118 NCTS starts, Benson has 13 victories, 51 top-five finishes, 77 top-10 results and 1,235 laps led.

"The season has been going pretty good and we've been real excited about our finishes," Benson said. "I get great equipment week in and week out to go race, and it's been a lot of fun. Obviously leading the points is a good thing, but we need to figure out how we can overcome some of the rule changes and hopefully be in the lead a few races from now."