BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 17: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17, 2019, in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
For the last time in the regular season, Bristol Motor Speedway hosted the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race with plenty of hype heading into the 500 laps under the lights on a Saturday night in Tennessee. Several drivers were fighting for a playoff spot, and perhaps a job for next season.
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 17: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17, 2019, in Bristol, Tennessee. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
BRISTOL, Tenn. – The first thing Denny Hamlin did after winning Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway was apologizing to the man he beat to the finish line in the 24th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season.
LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE – JULY 19: Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the #95 Procore Toyota, qualifies for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019, in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
An astute pit call by crew chief Mike Wheeler halfway through Sunday’s Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 got track position for Matt DiBenedetto.
Matt DiBenedetto on Pit Road at Chicagoland Speedway before the Camping World 400 NASCAR Cup Series practice on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo – Jay Husmann for Fan4Racing Blog and Radio.
Following the 2018 race season, Matt DiBenedetto’s fourth year competing at NASCAR’s top level, the Monster Energy Cup Series, he chose to leave the team he was with to essentially become a free agent. DiBenedetto had no other deal lined up or guaranteed but was placing a bet on himself that someone would pick him up. That team was the No. 95 of Leavine Family Racing, an organization that was looking to make some major changes to include a possible manufacturer change from Chevrolet to Toyota and an alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. When all the T’s were crossed and the I’s dotted, Matt DiBenedetto was set to embark on the best opportunity of his career.