Catchfence

Grand Rapids native Johnny Benson Jr. and his Red Horse Racing team are either going to have to continue its sponsorship search or accept less television time.

That’s what the defending NASCAR Camping World Trucks champion said when he visited Grand Rapids on Monday with Michigan International Speedway president Roger Curtis.

Benson and the MIS staff were in town to promote the June 13 Michigan 200 Truck race, and Benson is hoping to have a sponsor by the time that date arrives.

It appears Benson has a company lined up, but the television networks that carry the races, including Speed, which airs the majority of the events, have Red Horse Racing putting the brakes on that plan for now.

“We have somebody in the works to do it, but TV said they would avoid us if we had this sponsor, and it’s a gun manufacturer,” Benson said. “We are not sure why that would be the case, but that’s the information they are giving us. We have to choose whether we want to head down that road or not. We would hate to have good finishes and run in the top three and have TV avoid us for that reason.

- MLive.com