Travis Benjamin Can’t “PASS” Up Late Model Racing In ’17

Column By: MATTHEW WIERNASZ / RPW – BELFAST, ME – Travis Benjamin and Petit Motorsports will return to the PASS North Super Late Models and kickoff the 2017 season this weekend at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Benjamin feels the schedule is the same as last year, but with races added at Autodrome Montmagny in Quebec as well as Speedway 660 in New Brunswick. Speedway 660 has always been a favorite track for Benjamin.

” I like the schedule and I think its going to be pretty good for us.” Benjamin said

Benjamin has always been good at Thompson as well. The last couple times he has been there, Travis hasn’t had much luck.

In practice last season, he felt it was the most comfortable he ever felt in a race car at Connecticut track, and is very excited to return to the 5/8 mile oval this weekend.

One of the races this year’s schedule will be a mid-week event at Star Speedway on Thursday July 13th. That will be the same week as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rolls into New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Benjamin doesn’t know if he likes the Thursday night deal because most of his team member still have regular jobs. However, he does like the idea of it being on the same weekend as the NH Cup event because it may bring more fans to Star.

One of the races Benjamin has circled on his calendar is the Oxford 250, a race he’s won back-to-back. Travis remembers how happy he was when he qualified for the race five years ago for the first time.

“It’s one of those races where you get between 70 and 80 cars,” he said. “You gotta be on your game to be in the top 5 and top 10. I love the Oxford 250. It made a name for me. The downside for us last year finishing second was that we led 160 laps, but because Helliwell came in and pitted later than us, he had fresher tires. I still feel we had the best car but they won on pit strategy. Guess it a good thing we we’re disappointed with second.”

That run made the team hungry to do better when he and the team go back there on August 27th. Benjamin feels he’ll be one of the teams to beat.

On an interesting note, when the Petit Motorsports team called and asked him to drive their car, Benjamin had to think about it. In his entire racing career, he’s only driven for his family and always worked on his own car. He enjoys that, however, it was getting to the point where family time was becoming important.

Benjamin’s son was about nine years old and was into baseball, basketball and even the races himself. Benjamin loves racing, but doesn’t go to the track to finish second.

It was getting to the point where he may had to give up PASS racing or not focus as much time on his son. His son was going to come first without question, so when the deal popped up, it fit, and Benjamin feels they have a first-class operation.

Travis brought some of his crew members over to help and he feels everyone has worked really well together. It’s totally different, but now, Benjamin is focused 100% on driving.

” When you have a family-owned team, you don’t have any full time people,” he said. “You work all day and then your crew comes over and you work all night. Sometimes, that’s 12 to 14 hour days. It’s hard on people, and it’s hard on teams. We had a lot of success from 2011 to 2014, but we got burnt out just. Those long days can be overbearing and it burns you out.”

Benjamin had a tough start to the 2016 season. He wrecked in his heat race at Thompson on the first lap. Then, he went to Oxford, started 22nd and got up to 3rd before getting caught up in another mess.

He went to Beech Ridge the following week and was the fastest in practice. He was running great until he blew his motor and with 10 laps to go in the feature and wrecked.

After that was one of the biggest turning points for Benjamin. He remembers sitting in the shop along with one of the car owners and they were discouraged. However, the owner told him not to give up on him and the team. In actuality, Benjamin thought the owner was going to give up on him.

The team kept getting stronger throughout the year. Travis feels you always need luck in racing, and his finally turned in a good way. He feels the team is getting stronger heading into 2017, has his sights set on winning races, and believes if you win, the championship will come.

The Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Icebreaker will have PASS North Super Late Model qualifying on Saturday with the 75-lap feature on Sunday.