DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Matt DiBenedetto survived a green-white-checkered finish in NASCAR Cup Series overtime at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Saturday night to propel the famed Wood Brothers Racing team into the Playoffs.
DiBenedetto had a strong No. 21 Menards | Dutch Boy Ford Mustang throughout the Coke Zero Sugar 400 – and even avoided a late-race accident to put himself in contention for his first career Cup Series victory in a two-lap shootout at the “World Center of Racing.”
Restarting fifth, DiBenedetto didn’t have the drafting help he needed to push forward towards the leaders of William Byron, Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer.
And while chaos ensued on the final lap of the 2.5-mile speedway, DiBenedetto avoided any further disaster to claim 12th and the final spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, six points ahead of seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
“It was too eventful,” said DiBenedetto of the race. “I’m mentally worn out. I’m gonna sleep great tonight, but there was so much going on there at the end. First off, I’m so happy for this team and Menards, Dutch Boy, the whole Menard family, Motorcraft | Quick Lane and the Wood Brothers, Ford, our alliance with Team Penske. You name it. This means so much to get this for them.”
While DiBenedetto showcased a fast car, he said luck contributed to the finish and being able to be apart of his first NASCAR Playoffs.
“It definitely involved luck,” he said. “I think it was just trying to make decent decisions and be smart all day and not be the cause of the crash. That was my goal, to not make silly moves. I missed a couple opportunities to jump out and get out to the front a couple of times. There are some things to learn from and get better at.
“Ultimately I wouldn’t change them at this point because it led us to avoid that crash. There are always going to be some luck involved in these things and on top of that, you have to be a smart racer and not do anything too crazy. We came out clean and that is all that mattered.”
DiBenedetto also mentioned the race was the most stressful situation he had ever been a part of.
“Man, that was a high level of stress inside the race car,” he said. “You couldn’t have scripted it any crazier. We had a decent points cushion and we were really getting in a groove and then the last few weeks were rough on us and that is part of it. The whole season is all collectively one. Coming into here that is by far the most stressful situation I have dealt with behind the wheel and coming into this week.
“But I have to thank my career path and the opportunities I have gotten before this – last year at this time I didn’t know if I would drive a Cup car again in my life. I am appreciative of the stressful situations I have been through because it has made me extremely mentally tough and be a good leader with my guys on my team and not let it get to me and always do my normal deal and not change how I drive under pressure.”
As for the closing laps of the race, he explained, In the race there if I could I hedged toward being on the bottom because, man, just when you’re in the bottom and the top it’s nearly a sure thing when you get that you get crashed, so I’m glad we were able to take it home because I wasn’t happy with the finish, but I came in here saying all that mattered I just wanted to make these playoffs and the finishing position didn’t matter too much.”
Having to work for every opportunity in his NASCAR career, it just wasn’t DiBenedetto who was emotional about the chance to contend for a NASCAR Cup Series championship.
“I promise you my wife, Taylor, is at home crying right now,” he said. “I can bet you anything. My parents are here in the stands. They drove all the way down from North Carolina. My brother in the military, him and his girlfriend were able to make it here, so this is really special to make it in the playoffs.”
DiBenedetto didn’t care that he didn’t win, didn’t care that William Byron won his first NASCAR Cup Series race – what mattered was putting himself and his Wood Brothers Racing team in the 10-race Playoff run in his first season driving the No. 21 Ford Mustang.
“My career has been one I had to fight, claw, scratch for everything and it makes me so appreciative. I say the little things, but this is a big one making the playoffs for the Wood Brothers. This is very big, really special.”
The Playoffs won’t be easy for the Grass Valley, Calif. native though. Without the luxury of any Playoffs points, the 28-year-old will head to Darlington (S.C.) Raceway next weekend 16th in the Playoffs and 57 points behind leader Kevin Harvick.
That doesn’t matter though, DiBenedetto is ready for the challenge and eager to get to work.
“I am super pumped about the fact that we made the playoffs and the part I am most excited about is knowing that we have some great tracks coming up,” he said. “I love any of the short tracks we go to. Bristol is one of my favorite tracks we go to all year.
“I think we have a lot of strengths coming up as a team. It is neat that a lot of people know that and have taken notice of our strength as a team as the season has gone on and we have
become more of a contender at the perfect time and know that those tracks are right up or alley.
“I think we can go and have some consistent races and make it into the next round and make the next round after that and keep on fighting like we always do.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
