Johnny Benson Jr. of Grand Rapids was hoping to return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this season, but those plans have fallen through.

Benson, of Grand Rapids, announced in September that he was going to race the 2012 season for car owner Stacy Compton with sponsorship backing from the Pure Michigan campaign.

However, Compton said Wednesday that that deal did not materialize.

“We were really looking forward to bringing the 2008 champion back to the sport,” Compton said in a statement. “It’s unfortunate that the financing fell through and we’re not going to be able to campaign a championship winning effort for him.

"Everyone was working hard to try and pull this deal together, but it just fell short.”

Benson, 48 and a Forest Hills Northern High School graduate, most recently raced full-time in Trucks in 2008 when he captured the season title. He announced on his website that he instead plans on competing in the International Supermodified Association.

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