| Nov. 21, 2005 Homestead, FL - With NASCAR’s three major racing series coming to a close for 2005, Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership and Michael Waltrip Racing, Inc. returned to Homestead-Miami Motor Speedway (HMS) for the championship weekend.
Aaron’s would attempt to enter three cars, two Busch and one Cup, in the two races. Michael Waltrip would be behind the wheel of the #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine and Dave Ruetimann in the #98 Aaron’s Dream Machine for the NASCAR Busch Series Ford 300. Carl Long would try to put the #80 Aaron’s Dream Machine into the Ford 400 on time. And for the first this season Aaron’s would have an entry in the Craftsman Truck Series race, Johnny Benson and Bill Davis Racing’s #23 Toyota Tundra.
Aaron’s renewed an old friendship this weekend in Homestead-Miami with Craftsman Truck veteran and part-time NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Johnny Benson. The #23 team entered the final race of the season 13th in points, but looking for a strong run to finish the season. It would be a good start for Benson and Aaron’s with the #23 Aaron’s Dream Machine posting a qualifying lap of 31.635 good enough for 7th position. The qualifying effort would carry over to the race, which was postponed to early Saturday morning due to rain. Benson was able to keep the #23 Dream Machine up front for most of the day even leading a lap. Benson and the #23 Aaron’s Dream Machine would have a great day and finish the Ford 200 in 3rd place. Todd Bodine took home the checkered flag, and Ted Musgrave won his first NASCAR championship of any kind.
Michael Waltrip and Aaron’s brought two Busch cars, the #99 and the #98, to HMS with hopes of double trouble from the Dream Machines. Michael called on his buddy and Craftsman Trucks vet Dave Ruetimann to pilot the #98 Aaron’s Dream Machine for the Ford 300. The Dream Machines would show a lot of promise before qualifying with the #99 finishing the final practice 9th best and the #98 finishing 6th fastest. However, the Dream Machines’ qualifying runs would not go as well. Waltrip would fail to qualify the #99 Dream Machine while Ruetimann was able to get the #98 Dream Machine in the Ford 300 in the 30th position. It would be an up and down day for Ruetimann and the Dream Team, but they were never able to quiet turn the corner. The #98 Dream Machine would finish night 2 laps down in the 26th position. Greg Biffle would win the race, but Martin Truex Jr., winner of the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega, would win his second NASCAR Busch Series championship in two years.
For the second time in three weeks Carl Long would be behind the wheel of the #80 Aaron’s Dream Machine. Carl Long was not able to find the speed that he needed and would come up short on qualifying the #80 Aaron’s Dream Machine for Ford 400. Greg Biffle won the Ford 400 for the second straight year, but Tony Stewart would be crowd Nextel Cup Champion for the second time in four years.
Ken Butler III will finish up his rookie season of USAR Hooters ProCup racing in Lakeland, FL in the Four Champions Memorial Hooters 300. KBIII is looking forward to his 4th trip to USA International Speedway this year and hopes to improve on his 12th place finish that he scored in September.
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