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January 23, 2004

Is It LOVE or MONEY For Dan Benoit?

By Rebecca Richards
-KARNAC.com



Engines rumbling in the background, wiping his hands with a shop rag, Dan Benoit of Ft. Myers, watches his yellow 1977 # 74 Camaro Enduro roll out of the pits at Charlotte County Speedway after he checks it over prior to the race. A part of his normal routine for this remarkable racer and car builder, he has to make sure that everything is to his satisfaction.

Down to earth and honest, Dan Benoit races in an asphalt Enduro series for fun and as serious business and in the Sportsman Series. He said, "Having fun, and beating the other guys is the fun of it, ...it's stress ...a lot of laps, a lot of wear and tear on the car...engine, transmission and the out side of the car from other racers' banging into you, and your body.

When I get out of the car, my arms hurt. Out there, it's survival, you want to make it to the end and try to stay on the lead lap." He's proud of his 19 out of 21 feature win record too, he admits modestly. Dan claimed his first feature win in 1993 in the B-Tigers division at Plattsburg, NY. That was 18 feature wins earlier. Now fans can watch Dan race the yellow, #74 Dan and Son's Free Junk Car Removal, Full Scale Builder's, and Meems and Pop's sponsored 1977 Camaro race around Charlotte County Speedway, his home track, and DeSoto, Volusia, Jacksonville and Jack's Speedways.

Dan is quick to give credit to the people who make his race team successful. He says he couldn't do it without his team; wife, Kim, father-in-law, Bill Sawyer, Meems and Pops and his three sons. Kim and Dan met when her Dad, Bill Sawyer hired Dan to build a race car.

"I didn't even know racing existed before I met Dan!" she said, "The first time I went was in 1992 and I was pretty amazed actually. I didn't know what any of the flags meant or anything about them." Now Kim is as addicted to the sport as Dan and the couple's three sons.

What makes an Enduro race so different from other classes is the "endurance" aspect. The car has to be built sturdy and the engine able to handle the high speeds, heat and duration. For the racer it's a constant battle of upper body stamina, concentration, coping with the heat and clear thinking for 100 to 250 laps.



"An Enduro race is just green and red, no yellows. You have to have a good car to make it to the end. These cars sometimes look like junk but they have to be built tough to make 250 laps, and you don't want to come in and pit," Benoit said with a laugh, continuing, "A flat tire really makes you mad. You get down four laps and your chances of winning are over." "You can go to five and six races and win some serious money," stated Benoit. "The most I've ever won was a $5,000 race followed by a $3,000 to win event. I haven't won the ten grand yet, but I think I can do it," laughs Dan.

The serious side of Enduro racing is the victory though. A $20,000, $10,000, or $5,000 to win race event is becoming more popular, and attracting more Enduro racers' eyes besides Dan's.

A $10,000 to win Enduro race can easily draw 70 to 90 cars. Out of those cars according to Dan, 50 will be racing for the $10,000, not beating, banging you, and trying to put you out. "They want to win that money too. If you can take a car and beat it for 200 laps and win $10,000 even $5,000, it's a lot of fun, " he said. Dan's race season is usually through the winter which leaves time for he and wife, Kim's three sons to race.

Danny, 13, and Codey, 10 both race at Charlotte County Speedway in 1985 Dodge Chargers in the new kid's club. Youngest son, Billy, 7, races around on the family's home dirt track on their property. Kim may not have had a clue in 1992 about anything to do with racing, but over 10 years, after marrying a racer, and three sons whom love to race later, Kim Benoit is well versed in the sport!

-E-mail Rebecca Richards at rebecca@karnac.org


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  COMING EVENTS


Pit Stop
 FMCRA Race School Graduates ready for 2005 Mini Cup season Opener

 Schedule for January 8th at New Smyrna Speedway

 New Smyrna Speedway returns to racing action Jan. 8 with Riverfest 300

 Reminder for all Sunbelt - Super Late Model Drivers about SpeedFest

 Entries Are Coming In for USA International Speedway's 2005 SpeedFest

 Happy New Year from New Smyrna Speedway and Team FASCAR

 Pro Trucks and Quick Kids added to River Fest 300 at New Smyrna Speedway January 8th

 Team Cheetah Racing has Great 2004 Season

 CCS TO RACE SUNDAYS IN JANUARY; SPEEDWAY PREPARES FOR NEW YEARS RACING

 Rick Bristol announces sale of his race team to driver R.J. Arnone

 Big Improvements being made at Orlando SpeedWorld, Entries pouring in for 2005 Winternationals

 Charlotte County Speedway Announces December 31 and January 2005 Events Schedule

 Volusia Speedway Park Announces 2005 Race Week Schedule

 USA will host 2005 Speedfest January 27, 28, and 29

 USA Sprints 2004 Southern Thunder Tour Champion Andy Kelly

 Greg Kielma Turns Over Driver Duties To Joey Barnes

 Florida Mini Cup and Santa Clause bring holiday cheer to Shriner's Hospital

 USA Sprints Return to Charlotte County Speedway

 Last Race Night Buffet a Success

 New Smyrna Speedway Ends 2004 with Full Program

 Citrus Closes 2004 with 2 Day Winter Spectacular

 Final 2004 Race Set for Saturday Afternoon at Orlando SpeedWorld

 East Bay Raceway Park Gears up for 2004 Finale and 2005 Winter Nationals

 Drivers have FINAL Chance to Practice at SpeedWorld this Wednesday

 Final Race Night Buffet will honor area track and series champions

 Bobby Orr returns to New Smyrna Speedway

 SPEEDWAY TO SPONSOR NOISE FOR TOYS NOV. 27 AT TOYS-R-US

 Greenwood Chevolet to Sponsor first ever FASCAR Pro Truck race this Saturday at Columbia

 CHARLOTTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY REOPENS WITH DAVIDSON MEMORIAL

 FASCAR Pro Trucks debut this Saturday at Columbia Motorsports Park





 
 
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