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Oswego Today
By the People, for the People
NASCAR Veteran Benson Reflects on Father's Supermodified Return After Tragic Death
Benson's father took over driving duties for a Supermodified team after the death of driver Sammy Sessions in a snowmobile accident.
Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:49pm
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The tragic death of a fellow racer opened the door for a NASCAR veteran's father to return to the high-powered world of Supermodified racing.Oswego TodayNASCAR veteran Johnny Benson opened up about his father's early racing career, revealing how the tragic death of driver Sammy Sessions in a 1977 snowmobile accident led to Benson's father returning to Supermodified racing. After Sessions, who had won the Tri-SAC Series championship that year, was killed, the Dowker Motorsports team he drove for approached Benson's father to take over driving duties, providing him the opportunity to get back into open-wheel Supermodified racing that Benson remembers from his childhood.
Why it matters
Benson's story highlights how tragedy can sometimes open unexpected doors in motorsports, much like how Richard Childress Racing promoted Kevin Harvick after the death of Dale Earnhardt. It also sheds light on the dangerous history of motorsports and how safety advancements have improved over time, while still acknowledging the lives lost that paved the way for today's top drivers.
The details
In 1977, Allen Dale 'Sammy' Sessions, a respected driver in the late models and modified community, won the Tri-SAC Series championship. Tragically, he was killed later that year in a snowmobile accident during a SnoPro Racing Tournament. The Supermodified team he drove for, Dowker Motorsports, then approached Johnny Benson Sr. to take over driving duties in their car, providing him the opportunity to return to Supermodified racing that Benson remembers from his childhood.
- In 1977, Sammy Sessions won the Tri-SAC Series championship.
- In December 1977, Sessions was killed in a snowmobile accident.
The players
Johnny Benson
A NASCAR veteran who opened up about his father's early racing career.
Johnny Benson Sr.
Benson's father, who returned to Supermodified racing after the death of Sammy Sessions.
Sammy Sessions
A respected driver in the late models and modified community who won the 1977 Tri-SAC Series championship before being killed in a snowmobile accident later that year.
Max Dowker
The owner of Dowker Motorsports, the Supermodified team that Sessions drove for and that later approached Benson Sr. to take over driving duties.
What they’re saying
“He did start to run a super modified again back when Sammy Sessions race for Dawer Motorsports there and he got he got killed I think snowmobile racing or something. They asked my dad to drive it.”
— Johnny Benson, NASCAR Veteran
The takeaway
Benson's story highlights how tragedy can sometimes open unexpected doors in motorsports, much like how Richard Childress Racing promoted Kevin Harvick after the death of Dale Earnhardt. It also sheds light on the dangerous history of motorsports and how safety advancements have improved over time, while still acknowledging the lives lost that paved the way for today's top drivers.
