Fiery wreck at Berlin,
Benson serious
NASCAR racer injured at Berlin
Raceway
Updated: Sunday, 14 Jun 2009, 6:58 AM EDT
Published : Sunday, 14 Jun 2009, 1:08 AM EDT

MARNE, Mich. (WOOD) - NASCAR driver and Grand Rapids native Johnny
Benson is in serious condition at Spectrum Hospital after crashing his
ISMA supermodified car at Berlin Raceway Saturday night.

Spectrum Hospital tells 24 Hour News 8 that Benson is in serious at
the hospital but "is expected to be fine".

Article and video:
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/ottawa_county/Fiery_wreck_at_Berlin_Benson_serious

On Jun 14, 8:25*am, twisted <thenited... (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

UPDATE 2: From JB's Message Board - "As of this morning [Sunday am],
JB is awake and alert in a Grand Rapids hospital with at least one
broken rib. He is being kept for observation. There is no release time
as yet."(JohnnyBenson.com)(6-14-2009)

More on Benson's Accident: [Following the accident] the Life EMS
emergency response crew, along with Berlin Raceway officials and
safety team, worked carefully to extract Johnny Benson from his race
car. Benson was awake and alert during the process and gave race fans
a wave when loaded into the ambulance. "He was pretty sore, but he
seemed to be doing well last night when I talked to him," Johnny
Benson Sr. said. "The car's driver side hit the wall hard, and it's a
testament to the Hans (head and neck safety) device and the safety
seat in the supermodified car that held him in place so well. I have
to commend the safety crew and ambulance crew at Berlin Raceway for
their quick response - they did their job well, putting the fire out
quickly and taking care of Johnny." Benson Sr. said the fuel line was
cut in two when it was pinched between the rear axle and the frame.
The alcohol-based fuel that these supermodified cars use burns blue
and very hot, and Benson managed to come out of it with barely any
burns due to the quick response by the safety crew. The frame of the
car was not bent badly, and all of the safety aspects of the car held
up well, which allowed Benson to escape without major injuries.(Berlin
Raceway PR) see earlier reports about the accident on the Camping
World Truck Series Site.(6-14-2009)

On Jun 14, 9:01*pm, twisted <thenited... (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:
Good vibes going to Benson - a class act. There is video at youtube.

N.

On 2009-06-15, Nancy2 <nancy-dooley (AT) uiowa (DOT) edu> wrote in
<a8f4c2a5-47a6-49e8-9ec7-3baf9fcb8ec2 (AT) z16g2000prd (DOT) googlegroups.com>:

Benson's accident was the opening news report on WOOD AM 1300 this
morning. I woke up to it at 5 am. Anyway, he's got a broken rib or
two, but I guess the serious condition is all about the chemicals in the
fire extinguishers that he breathed, there might be lung tissue damage
or something.

--
H