Norm Benning
Encyclopedia
Norm Benning, Jr. is a full-time owner/driver. He has competed in the three top touring series of NASCAR, and currently owns and drives the #57 Chevrolet in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Benning is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania
with a business
degree. He never attended IUP, let alone graduate. Verified by IUP.
even though he was supposed to be at least 18 years old. He also has raced in dirt late models and asphalt modifieds.
. After starting 35th, Benning would finish 30th in his debut at Dover
. He would then match that finish at Pocono
and 31st in his return to Dover.
Benning made his last Cup points race start for O'Neil in 1993, starting last (39th) at Darlington
and finishing 39th after one lap of competition. After that, Benning attempted to make the Daytona 500
for seven consecutive years. He attempted many Cup races through 2001 in his own #84 84 Lumber
Chevy, as well a couple of entries of the #79 T.R.I.X. Racing car.
Benning's next NASCAR start came in the Craftsman Truck Series
in 2002. Driving for Troxell Motorsports, Benning qualified the #93 Chevy into the field at Nashville Superspeedway
in 18th position. A vibration dropped the team out of the event and Benning finished 32nd.In 2009 Benning was back in the truck series attempting a full season. He only missed one race and that was Daytona. At Michigan Norm Benning finished 17th his best finish of the year for the Camping World Truck Series. His final position in points was 21st.
Benning attempted the NASCAR Busch Series
for the next two years. Benning was able to compete in 3 of the 6 races attempted. In his debut, Benning started the 2003 Nazareth
race in 42nd before finishing in 40th. He was later able to improve in the year with a career-best 36th place at NHIS
. Driving once again at Nazareth, Benning started 42nd before finishing 38th with brake failure. He fielded a car for Dion Ciccarelli at Nazareth in 2004, who finished 29th.
During the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Benning competed in 7 of the 8 races attempted driving his own #57 Chevrolet. In 2009, Benning competed full-time in the Truck Series for his own team (his first attempt at a full NASCAR season). He qualified for 24 of 25 races and finished 21st in overall points. His best finish came at Michigan
when he finished 17th with Germane Red sponsorship.
For 2010, Benning plans to once again run a full Truck season. He is still without a full time sponsor. On February 12, 2010, at the Daytona International Speedway
, his crew chief, William "Billy" Wheeler, was suspended indefinitely after testing positive for a banned substance. At Texas
, he tied his career best finish of 17th, even though he was 8 laps down. Benning was forced to withdraw from the 2011 Daytona 500 field after he failed to practice.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Benning is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
with a business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
degree. He never attended IUP, let alone graduate. Verified by IUP.
Early career
Benning began by racing as a 15-year-old at Heidelberg RacewayHeidelberg Raceway
Heidelberg Raceway was an American auto racing track which was built in Scott Township, Allegheny County, approximately southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It held weekly races and numerous special events between 1948 and 1973. It held four NASCAR Strictly Stock/Grand National and one NASCAR...
even though he was supposed to be at least 18 years old. He also has raced in dirt late models and asphalt modifieds.
ARCA
Benning has finished in the top 10 in ARCA points seven times, with a highest of 5th in 2001. In 276 starts, Benning has five top 5 and 32 top 10 finishes. His best effort was a 3rd place finish at the Springfield dirt mile in 2004.NASCAR
Benning has attempted numerous NASCAR races in the top 3 divisions during his career. Benning made his NASCAR debut in 1989, driving in three races in the Cup series for the #99 car owned by Jerry O'NeilJerry O'Neil
Jerry O'Neil is an United States NASCAR race car driver from Auburn, New York. He competed in 16 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races in his career between 1990 and 1993....
. After starting 35th, Benning would finish 30th in his debut at Dover
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
. He would then match that finish at Pocono
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
and 31st in his return to Dover.
Benning made his last Cup points race start for O'Neil in 1993, starting last (39th) at Darlington
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
and finishing 39th after one lap of competition. After that, Benning attempted to make the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
for seven consecutive years. He attempted many Cup races through 2001 in his own #84 84 Lumber
84 Lumber
84 Lumber is an American building materials chain. 84 Lumber Company is the largest privately held building materials supplier to professional contractors in the country. Headquartered in the Pittsburgh Metro Area town of Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, it was founded in 1956 by Joseph Hardy...
Chevy, as well a couple of entries of the #79 T.R.I.X. Racing car.
Benning's next NASCAR start came in the Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
in 2002. Driving for Troxell Motorsports, Benning qualified the #93 Chevy into the field at Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in...
in 18th position. A vibration dropped the team out of the event and Benning finished 32nd.In 2009 Benning was back in the truck series attempting a full season. He only missed one race and that was Daytona. At Michigan Norm Benning finished 17th his best finish of the year for the Camping World Truck Series. His final position in points was 21st.
Benning attempted the NASCAR Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
for the next two years. Benning was able to compete in 3 of the 6 races attempted. In his debut, Benning started the 2003 Nazareth
Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing track in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania which operated from 1910 to 2004. The track is often associated with local drivers Mario and Michael Andretti. It was associated with Frankie Schneider in its earlier dirt track history....
race in 42nd before finishing in 40th. He was later able to improve in the year with a career-best 36th place at NHIS
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
. Driving once again at Nazareth, Benning started 42nd before finishing 38th with brake failure. He fielded a car for Dion Ciccarelli at Nazareth in 2004, who finished 29th.
During the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Benning competed in 7 of the 8 races attempted driving his own #57 Chevrolet. In 2009, Benning competed full-time in the Truck Series for his own team (his first attempt at a full NASCAR season). He qualified for 24 of 25 races and finished 21st in overall points. His best finish came at Michigan
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
when he finished 17th with Germane Red sponsorship.
For 2010, Benning plans to once again run a full Truck season. He is still without a full time sponsor. On February 12, 2010, at the Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, his crew chief, William "Billy" Wheeler, was suspended indefinitely after testing positive for a banned substance. At Texas
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
, he tied his career best finish of 17th, even though he was 8 laps down. Benning was forced to withdraw from the 2011 Daytona 500 field after he failed to practice.