Travis Benjamin of Morrill has inched his way up the Busch North ladder.

But he may be taking a big step this season.

His top sponsors, Irving, Hershey’s and Pepsi, have upped their sponsorship dollars and he has added a pair of new sponsors, tripling his budget from a year ago.

And he received a nice gift from someone who is familiar with the trials and tribulations of being a Maine racer with high expectations: NASCAR Winston Cup series driver Ricky Craven of Newburgh.

“Ricky gave me a brand-new car [Ford Taurus],” said Benjamin. “And I’ll be running it for the first time at Loudon this weekend.”

The Busch 200 and Busch North 125 will be held Saturday at New Hampshire International Speedway.

While also racing at local tracks, the former Belfast High School standout point guard entered four Busch North races in 2000 and qualified for two.

Last year, he qualified for 18 of 20 races and finished 21st in points. He was fourth in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings. His best finishes were a pair of 11ths and he didn’t have any DNFs (Did Not Finish).

“We’ve got some brand-new bodies on our cars so we’ll have the necessary downforce on the big tracks,” said Benjamin. “We’ve added a full-time crew member, Tim Turner. He’s really smart. He used to run pro stocks at Unity. He has never worked on Busch cars before but he’s learning.”

Benjamin also pointed out that with a bigger budget, “we can also afford to buy more tires. Last year, I’d buy only four [per race]. This year, we’ll be able to buy eight to 10.”

Benjamin said he is “real excited” about the season.

“We still don’t have enough [money] but we’ve got a lot more than we ever have. Irving even bought us uniforms,” said Benjamin whose father, Ron, has foot much of the bill for Travis’ racing.

Ron Benjamin owns grocery stores in the Belfast area.

The 23-year-old Benjamin said he would like to finish in the top 15 in points and feels that is a realistic goal.

“I learned a lot last year. I particularly learned how important it was to talk to people and to not be afraid to use the phone to get help from them,” said Benjamin.

Two of those people he has talked to are former Busch Grand National Rookie of the Year Andy Santerre of Cherryfield, who will be racing against him at Loudon this weekend, and former Maine racer Stan Meserve, who is working on car set-ups for Winston Cup driver Michael Waltrip.

“I talk to Stan quite often,” said Benjamin, struggled to a 19th-place finish in the Busch opener but said he wasn’t discouraged.

Benjamin said Santerre, Craven and Meserve know what it’s like to leave Maine for the South and opportunities to race on the Busch Grand National circuit.

Craven has gone on to become a Winston Cup regular.

Heading south is one of Benjamin’s long-term goals.

For the time being, he would like to annex some top-10 finishes on the Busch North tour in trying to break into the top 15 in points.

Gordon will run some ASA races

Strong’s Tracy Gordon, a five-year regular on the Busch North series, will run a limited American Speed Association schedule.

David Frahm, owner of SNF Crane in Salem, N.H., and a longtime friend of Gordon’s, offered Gordon the opportunity to race for him and he has accepted the offer.

The short-track ASA races, which are held across the country, won’t conflict with Gordon’s Busch North schedule.

Gordon will make his debut on June 1 at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich.

The ASA races with spec motors and bodies which creates a level playing field.

New motorcross park opens Sunday

The Seboeis Stream Xtreme Motorsports [motorcross] Park in Howland will open for the season on Sunday.

There will be 17 from 50cc up.

Registration for the racers will start at 7 with practice at 9:30 and racing at 11:30.

Those interested should take Interstate Exit 54 and head toward Howland. At the stop sign, take a left, cross over the bridge and the Motorsports Park is three miles from The Corner Store on the lefthand side.