Say Cheese
(May 30, 2007) - DuBois, PA.
That is what Benny Gordon and his Samuels Metals
team were saying at the end of the Sears Auto Stores
200. Not because they were in Wisconsin, but they
were celebrating and having their picture taken in
the winner’s circle at Madison International
Speedway.
2007 has not begun in typical fashion for Benny
Gordon with poor starting positions and worse
finishing positions. “This is not the way to impress
your new sponsors,” said Benny before the start of
the race. “We have worked hard but the results have
not been there”. |
Benny proudly holds his trophy for winning the
Sears Auto Stores 200 on Saturday. |
Saturday’s events took an important step in correcting that
situation. The day started out on a positive note with Benny
wheeling the Madison International high banks in his Samuel Metals,
Johnny’s Suzuki, ADG, Predator Performance, Murray’s Freightliner
Ford Fusion laying down some very fast laps early in the practice.
Holding the fastest time on the practice charts for a several
sessions and not falling out of the top five during practice Benny
knew he had a good car for the race. Brief rain showers ended
practice early. “We had a few more changes that I wanted to try
during practice. I think there was more in the car, but we did not
have time to test them”, said Benny. “Following the rain shortened
practice, we decide to make just a few shock changes from the
practice set up because the car felt good and it was consistent.”
Benny and the Samuel team pose for their first win
in 2007. |
Just when it seemed Benny’s luck was changing events took a
different turn when qualifying was cancelled and the starting grid
was sent by current driver points. “I was very upset that we were
not going to get to qualify because I knew I had a fast car. We
started on the pole both our previous races here and set the track
record last year. I felt like we could have had our third straight
pole here at Madison. I knew that I did not want to start deep in
the field”, said Benny. “I was very concerned that we could have
similar results to the race at Shenandoah getting caught up in a mid
pack wreck early in the race.”
Starting in the eighteenth position Benny
methodically worked his way through the field. Benny
was able to pass cars on the preferred inside line
and when necessary on the outside for those that
would not get out of the way of a faster car. |
“The car was very well
balanced tonight” said Benny. “We decided to pit early, I think it
was lap 35, and that was a good call by my brother Todd. It allowed
me plenty of time to work my way to the front without having to
battle all the fast cars at the same time.”
As the race unfolded the early pit stop, the excellent handling car
and the cycle of pit stops by front running cars put Benny in the
lead by lap 76. From lap 77 to lap 200 Benny was able to comfortably
maintain the lead to win the race. “The car was great on long and
short runs”, said Benny. “The tires were excellent and did not fall
off. I was able to pull away from the field until cautions bunched
us back together. The car was on a rail tonight and I had more in it
if I needed it.”
Benny was able to run the table on points Saturday night collecting
30 extra markers for leading a lap, leading the most laps, earning
the hard charger award and winning the race. The win and the extra
points vaulted Benny from twenty second (22nd) place into a tie for
third (3rd). “This was an awesome point night for us tonight,” said
Benny. “We really needed this win to get ourselves back on track to
win the Northern Division. This has energized the team and I am very
happy to be able to show my sponsors that we have what it takes to
win. We have had a number of personnel changes that have upset the
balance of the team but we have a solid core group that continues to
work very hard. Joe McKee, Todd Smith and Uncle Pete put in very
long hours preparing these cars and it shows. I am very proud of the
whole team effort and look forward to our next race at Mansfield.”
About Samuel
The Samuel Company is a family owned metal processing and
distributing company headquartered in Ontario, Canada with more than
80 facilities located throughout Canada and the United States and
more than 4500 employees. For more information about Samuel,
please visit www.samuel.com.
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