BRISTOL, Tenn. – It may not have been a victory that counted towards the Chase for the Sprint Cup, but Matt DiBenedetto sixth-place performance in Sunday’s Food City 500 was plenty of enough reason for the BK Racing team to celebrate.
Earning just their second top-10 in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition, short track ace DiBenedetto not only earned his career best finish in 41 races, but also earned owner Ron Devine his best finish since an eighth-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in May 2012.
“I’m so speechless – just I’m so thankful to everybody on this team, everybody at BK Racing, Cosmo Motors in Hickory, North Carolina – they’re local to me, he’s my best friend, sell some awesome cars, please check them out – everyone at BK Racing, Dustless Blasting,” said DiBenedetto. “These guys, man – that’s unbelievable for a team like to us to be growing this much and for us to get a sixth-place run – I’m sorry I’m so emotional, it’s just this is like a win for us. I am so excited. This is just – this is incredible. I’m so blessed to be here.”
And while the finishing order from Sunday’s slugfest at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway was sprinkled with plenty of good stories, the performance was a feel good story for Devine who entered the sport in 2012 after purchasing the assets of Red Bull Racing but has since struggled to earn the results that could glisten them in the spotlight.
Sunday afternoon, they achieved that and with glorious praises from around the garage area.
“A sixth-place finish for BK Racing and for all my guys, this is like a win for us,” he added. “I apologize for being so emotional, but this is an incredible run. I can’t thank my team enough, my crew chief Gene Nead and everyone on this team for working so hard and busting their tails for me to be able to drive this race car in the Sprint Cup Series.”
The No. 83 team has been solid on the short tracks this season and that could be contributed to the changes the team made during the offseason.
The Concord, North Carolina-based team took advantage of the closing of Michael Waltrip Racing to purchase more than a dozen cars and also hired several of its former employees. As a bonus, the organization is also receiving additional technical support from Toyota Racing Development this season.
A 20th place finish at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway in March was the team’s best effort of the year. Turning heads there, some expected the team to be in the mix during 500 grueling laps in Thunder Valley, but qualifying 30th on Friday afternoon – the team would have to dig out of a deep hole.
DiBenedetto though stepped up to the plate and did what he does best, excelling on short tracks and bringing home a finish that will forever be remembered but at the same time proving he belongs at the sport’s pinnacle level.
“This is such an honor and I’m so thankful to all the sponsors – Dustless Blasting, Cosmo Motors, Dr. Pepper and I know I’m forgetting people,” the 24-year-old added. “Thank you to the fans most importantly – they are so great and so supportive. I’m just really thankful to be here, this was a great day.”
Even race winner Carl Edwards spoke about the team’s accomplishment post-race.
Man, that’s unbelievable,” Edwards said. ”That’s probably tougher than what we did. That’s a real testament to them.
He (DiBenedetto) seems like a really great guy. I haven’t spent a lot of time with him, but he seems like a really good dude, seems like a neat family. That’s neat.
“I was telling somebody on top, what makes these races so special, and I think I can speak for everybody up here, is that this competition is so tough. These guys are all so good, and on TV it might look like, oh, those guys are struggling or oh, that’s a lap car, whatever. They’re only a half a tenth off or a tenth off. It’s just unreal how hard everybody goes. A good finish in this series is a real accomplishment.”
For car owner Ron Devine, the investment is paying off. Big time.
“This was a great day for Matt and a great day for our entire organization,” said Devine. “We’ve continued to work through the challenges that every team encounters. Our goal each week is to achieve small victories. Today we accomplished that goal. I’m very proud of everyone at BK Racing.”
Next weekend the Sprint Cup Series heads to Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, another short track. And while the characteristics between the two tracks are completely different it would be hard to bet against BK Racing flexing their muscle once again, especially when it comes to a short track talent such as Matt DiBenedetto.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
