BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – JULY 15: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 UniFirst Chevrolet, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Elliott claims first All-Star victory in the NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event on Wednesday, July 15th at Bristol Motor Speedway.
For the second time in thirty-two years, the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star race moved the venue to a different track. The first switch happened in 1986 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The All-Star event, typically at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was moved to Bristol Motor Speedway this season.
HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – JUNE 14: Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on June 14, 2020 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Part Four No. 48 Series pose answers to two questions, can Matt DiBenedetto get the opportunity of a lifetime?And, what are his chances of falling upward one more time?
Matt DiBenedetto is arguably one of the biggest feel-good stories in recent NASCAR memory. The former NASCAR-Next driver and Joe Gibbs Racing prospect has worked himself from the near bottom to the top of the sport.
Race number two for the NASCAR Cup Series is in the books, and winner number two of the season has been crowned, with Joey Logano emerging victorious over Matt DiBenedetto, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Austin Dillon at Las Vegas. The 1.5-mile track provided many moments of exciting racing, interesting race strategies (that eventually paid off), and some four, five, even six-wide racing. There were some clear winners and losers from this weekend’s race, and here are some of those headliners.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 12: Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, speaks with the media during the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Matt DiBenedetto is our first driver in a new feature at Fan4Racing. ‘In Focus’ will put a spotlight on various NASCAR drivers, crew members, and people in the industry. We also hope fans will enjoy learning more about each person.
At Wood Brothers Racing for the 2020 season, Matt DiBenedetto has made the most of his journey to get there. So, it’s not surprising that we might expect him to make the most of his time in the No. 21 for the organization. And so far, DiBenedetto is on a roll.
With just two NASCAR Cup Series races in the books, DiBenedetto is having his best-ever start of a season. It’s clearly still too early to judge his entire season. But his results thus far give some reason for optimism. With finishes of 19th at Daytona and a second at Las Vegas, he’s in a three-way tie inside the top-ten of the series point standings. And just 25 points away from the lead.
For the first time in his career, DiBenedetto is even with Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson at this point in the season. Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 winner. While Johnson is a seven-time Cup Series champion. Heading to Auto Club Speedway this weekend, that certainly gives DiBenedetto some confidence in that kind of company.