Benson runs for a piece of history at New Hampshire

If you haven't noticed, there are some pretty intriguing stories surrounding the Craftsman Truck Series right now.

Through 17 races, the series has its second-closest points battle as just four points separates points leader Ron Hornaday from Mike Skinner. Speaking of Skinner, if the former champion can drive his car to the P-1 spot during qualifying on Saturday it will tie a record he set back in the inaugural 1995 season with 10 poles in a season.

Ron Hornaday

By the Numbers

Just four points separates points leader Ron Hornaday from Mike Skinner, the second-closest margin through 17 races in Truck Series history.

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If that wasn't enough, if Skinner's Bill Davis Racing teammate Johnny Benson is able to capture the checkered flag in Saturday's New Hampshire 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET, SPEED), he will become just the fifth driver in Truck Series history to win three consecutive races in a season, joining the likes of Skinner, who has done it twice, in 1996 and this season; Hornaday (1997); Greg Biffle (2000) and Todd Bodine (2005).

"I am very excited about Loudon," Benson said. "We have been on a roll here lately and I see no reason to stop now."

And a roll it has been.

In the June race at Texas, Benson suffered engine problems and finished 29th. It was his third finish of 27th or worse on the season and during that time, he saw teammate Skinner rattle off those three consecutive wins and pull away with the points lead while he sat in eighth, 417 points behind.

Since then, Benson has become a man on a mission. He followed up Texas with a ninth at Michigan, and then finally piloted his No. 23 Toyota Tundra to Victory Lane with a dominating performance at Milwaukee. Since then, it's been an upward climb in the standings with no signs of letting off the throttle.

Benson used pit strategy and a great truck to come from behind to win at Bristol, then last week he had to overcome a loose lug nut on a pit stop and again come from behind to win at Gateway, moving up to fifth in the point standings.

Now, as the defending race winner at New Hampshire, Benson would love nothing more than to keep this run going, and make a little history in the process.

"[Crew chief] Trip [Bruce] and the guys have been working hard and I am glad to see it all finally paying off," Benson said. "We won here last year and I would love nothing more than to do it again this year.

"We have been striving for consistent finishes all year and we finally got the ball rolling in the right court. I hope to keep it up this weekend and for the rest of the year."

Lia to make NCTS debut

Along with Skinner, Benson and Ryan Mathews, Bill Davis Racing will field a fourth truck in this week's New Hampshire 200.

Donny Lia will make his Craftsman Truck Series debut in the No. 36 Toyota and Lia can't wait to get behind the wheel.

"I am very excited about this opportunity," he said. "Bill Davis Racing is the best of the best when it comes to the Craftsman Trucks, and I can't wait to hop in one of their Tundra's in Loudon.

"I have had a lot of success in other NASCAR ranks, and I am anxious to see what I can do in the trucks."

His success comes from a solid run on the Whelen Modified Tour. He has six wins this season, including victories at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and the track he will race on Saturday, New Hampshire International Speedway.

"I have always run well at Loudon and actually already won there in the Modified earlier this year. I am looking forward to making the best of this opportunity for Bill Davis and [team manager] Mark Chambers."

Wood to pass $4 million mark

Jon Wood made his Truck Series debut at Martinsville in 2001, finishing 31st after having mechanical problems. Since then he has made 95 starts in the Truck Series, 85 starts in the Busch Series and made his Cup debut earlier this season at Las Vegas. In that time he has earned quite a bit of money, so much that this weekend at New Hampshire, Wood will pass the $4 million mark in career NASCAR earnings -- not too bad for someone who will celebrate his 26th birthday in October.

But Wood isn't concerned about his bank account, he's more interested in adding to the number two -- the number of career wins he has.

"When you're racing, you don't have time to think about things like money," he said. "When I'm retired and have a chance to sit down and think about it, maybe then it will be important. Right now, the only numbers that mean anything to me is where we qualify, where we race and where we finish at New Hampshire."