By: Cathy Brown
Twitter: @TheCathyBrown @PitOutsideBox
Facebook: Pitting Outside the Box
Website: Pitting Outside the Box
AVONDALE, Ariz. – In eights trips to the Valley of the Sun, Matt DiBenedetto has an average finish of 31.3. His last trip to Phoenix Raceway was 13th, so starting ninth today in the Fan Shield 500, could DiBenedetto capitalize?
He’s racing for a new team this year in the NASCAR Cup Series, the Wood Brothers – a team that’s been around as long as NASCAR, a team needing just one more win to reach 100 wins.
Two weeks ago, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, DiBenedetto finished second, tying his personal best finish from Bristol last year.
His progress has been amazing to watch, he’s the “people’s driver” many fans can relate to him, he’s had his shares of ups and downs – as I named him last year “Matt the Cat” he always lands on his feet.
From the drop of the green flag, DiBenedetto’s car was strong – by lap 40 he had worked his way up to third.
The first caution came out for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and this brought DiBenedetto to pit road for tire and fuel, his team getting him back on track fourth.
No sooner was the race green, the yellow was back out for an incident involving Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney.
This led to a four-lap shootout to end Stage No. 1, Kyle Busch battled DiBenedetto for fourth, but the No. 21 held him off crossing the stripe fourth and earning seven valuable stage points.
When some of the leaders pitted, the No. 21 stayed out and this placed him third for the start of the second segment.
On the restart, DiBenedetto was shuffled back to fifth – he keyed his radio and told his team he was “too tight.”
His car got tighter during the run as he fell back to 10th, his team brought him back in for tires, fuel and necessary adjustments and on lap 138 he was able to get around Aric Almirola for ninth.
DiBenedetto found himself in a four-car battle with Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, William Byron and Erik Jones, a battle he lost as he lost serval positions on the track.
With 43 laps to go in Stage No. 2, he was passed by Joey Logano and was now back in 15th.
Frustrated, DiBenedetto told his team “we had a third-place car and now we’re somehow 17th, I don’t get it.”
When the second segment was complete, the No. 21 crossed the stripe 17th.
Coming in for the end of stage caution, his team got him out 18th, and on the start of the final stage – DiBenedetto rocketed up to 14th.
The adjustments made to car, now made the car too loose – as DiBenedetto struggled for the remainder of the race.
When the checkered flag flew, he crossed the stripe 13th, not the finish he wanted – DiBenedetto finds himself ninth in NCS points as he heads back east to Atlanta Motor Speedway next weekend.
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By: Cathy Brown
Twitter: @TheCathyBrown @PitOutsideBox
Facebook: Pitting Outside the Box
Website: Pitting Outside the Box
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He’s racing for a new team this year in the NASCAR Cup Series, the Wood Brothers – a team that’s been around as long as NASCAR, a team needing just one more win to reach 100 wins.
Two weeks ago, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, DiBenedetto finished second, tying his personal best finish from Bristol last year.
His progress has been amazing to watch, he’s the “people’s driver” many fans can relate to him, he’s had his shares of ups and downs – as I named him last year “Matt the Cat” he always lands on his feet.
From the drop of the green flag, DiBenedetto’s car was strong – by lap 40 he had worked his way up to third.
The first caution came out for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and this brought DiBenedetto to pit road for tire and fuel, his team getting him back on track fourth.
No sooner was the race green, the yellow was back out for an incident involving Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney.
This led to a four-lap shootout to end Stage No. 1, Kyle Busch battled DiBenedetto for fourth, but the No. 21 held him off crossing the stripe fourth and earning seven valuable stage points.
When some of the leaders pitted, the No. 21 stayed out and this placed him third for the start of the second segment.
On the restart, DiBenedetto was shuffled back to fifth – he keyed his radio and told his team he was “too tight.”
His car got tighter during the run as he fell back to 10th, his team brought him back in for tires, fuel and necessary adjustments and on lap 138 he was able to get around Aric Almirola for ninth.
DiBenedetto found himself in a four-car battle with Kyle Larson, Cole Custer, William Byron and Erik Jones, a battle he lost as he lost serval positions on the track.
With 43 laps to go in Stage No. 2, he was passed by Joey Logano and was now back in 15th.
Frustrated, DiBenedetto asked his team “we had a third-place car and now we’re somehow 17th, I don’t get it.”
When the second segment was complete, the No. 21 crossed the stripe 17th.
Coming in for the end of stage caution, his team got him out 18th, and on the start of the final stage – DiBenedetto rocketed up to 14th.
The adjustments made to car, now made the car too loose – as DiBenedetto struggled for the remainder of the race.
When the checkered flag flew, he crossed the stripe 13th, not the finish he wanted – DiBenedetto finds himself 10th in NCS points as he heads back east to Atlanta Motor Speedway next weekend.
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