BRISTOL, Tenn: The world watched in awe in the final laps of Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway the opportunity to see Matt DiBenedetto potentially earn his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Unfortunately for the Leavine Family Racing driver, he watched polesitter Denny Hamlin fight back for an array of issues to pass the No. 95 Toyota on Lap 489 of 500. Despite his best efforts, a tight-race car worked against the Grass Valley, Calif. native in the closing laps forcing him to settle for a career-best second.
It’s been a tumultuous week for the 27-year-old who announced on Thursday that he won’t return to the organization next season and expected to be replaced by a driver in the Joe Gibbs Racing camp.
Sticking to his words in his statement, DiBenedetto put the distraction behind him and used a competitive car to his advantage and recorded his third top-five of the year and fifth top-10 overall.
“I wanted to win so bad for these guys, for this team for them giving me this opportunity,” said DiBenedetto who led a race-high 93 laps. I’m just thankful that they gave me this opportunity, Toyota, Procore, Dumont Jets. I’m so thankful. But, man, I’m sad.
“Congrats to Denny (Hamlin). He raced hard. I’ve been a fan of his since I was a kid. To be racing door to door with him at Bristol, in front of a great group of fans… I’m proud of these guys. Cool (moment) for this team.”
After being cautiously aggressive during Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the race, DiBenedetto attacked during Stage 3 and steadily moved forward and on a restart on Lap 388, he sat fourth but made a brilliant move a couple laps later to pass Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott before making the move on Erik Jones who slid into the Turn 2 wall on Lap 396 and took the lead.
Over the course of the next 93 laps, DiBenedetto showcased his ability to be a Cup Series winner stretching his lead away in lapped traffic around the tight 0.533-mile race track.
Approaching the final 25 laps of the race, DiBenedetto was attempting to pass the lead lap car of Ryan Newman. The two cars collided causing some left-front damage to DiBenedetto’s car.
After the race, he said the contact with the Roush Fenway Racing altered the handling which allowed the pass for the lead to transpire 11 laps for the finish.
“We got tight after the deal with Newman when he came up into us,” he added. “All of a sudden it got really tight after that.”
After the race, winner Denny Hamlin apologized for spoiling DiBenedetto’s career-best night.
“I’m so sorry to Matt DiBenedetto, (crew chief) Mike Wheeler. I hate it,” sounded Hamlin. “I mean, I know a win would mean a lot to that team. I have to give it 110% for FedEx and my whole team. Just sorry.”
Despite being defeated and the circumstances surrounding his future, DiBenedetto praised those around him for standing by him through the topsy-turvy last five days.
I’ll try not to get emotional, but it’s been a tough week,” he said holding back tears.
“I just want to stick around and keep doing this for a long time to come. I love it. I love the opportunity. I’m not done yet.
Something will come open. It’s going to happen. I’m here to win. Something’s going to come open. Thankful for my wife and fans for sticking with me. It’s been a tough journey, a hard week.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
