NASCAR Cup Series: What’s next for Matt DiBenedetto?

Following the announcement that he will not return to Leavine Family Racing for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, what is next for Matt DiBenedetto?

Matt DiBenedetto, just 23 races into his first NASCAR Cup Series season driving for Leavine Family Racing, announced Thursday that he will not return to the team for the 2020 season.

It has been rumored that Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Series driver Christopher Bell will take over behind the wheel of the #95 Toyota, effectively on loan from Joe Gibbs Racing.

The 24-year-old Norman, Oklahoma native re-signed with Joe Gibbs Racing in late June. Joe Gibbs Racing formed a technical alliance with Leavine Family Racing after Leavine Family Racing switched manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota ahead of the 2019 season.

The reason Bell likely won’t be promoted to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Cup Series team is because of the fact that Erik Jones has been tipped to re-sign with the team. All three of their other drivers are already under contract for next year.

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So Joe Gibbs Racing will effectively have five drivers in the Cup Series next year, much like they did in the 2017 season when Jones was on loan to the Joe Gibbs Racing-affiliated Furniture Row Racing, and at the end of the day, DiBenedetto is the one who is getting a raw deal.

With all that has gone down, what’s next for the 28-year-old Grass Valley, California native?

If logic and talent even mean half as much as funding and sponsorship, it shouldn’t take long for DiBenedetto to get a decent ride somewhere.

After starting the season with a top finish of 12th place and an average finish of 24.47 in the first 15 races, he has recorded four top eight finishes, including the first two top five finishes of his career, over the course of the next eight races, and his average finish during this span is 12.88.

DiBenedetto has undoubtedly earned the right to compete at NASCAR’s highest level on a full-time basis, and with a quality team.

Of course, the only real upgrade at the Cup Series level in terms of teams potentially with open seats is Stewart-Haas Racing. Two of their four drivers are on the hot seat at this point without confirmed contracts for next year.

DiBenedetto previously drove for Go Fas Racing, so perhaps he wouldn’t mind replacing David Ragan at Front Row Motorsports despite the fact that this would be a step down from Leavine Family Racing in terms of performance.

That said, he gave up his ride at Go Fas Racing to seek a better opportunity. That gamble ultimately paid off, but it also illustrated that he was no longer interested in running 30th every race.

That’s where things get interesting. Could he possibly make a move to the Xfinity Series if he isn’t picked up by Stewart-Haas Racing?

DiBenedetto is set to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in next Saturday afternoon’s Xfinity Series race at Road America. While this race was thought to be a proving ground in terms of him staying at Leavine Family Racing and that obviously won’t happen now, it can still be a proving ground for a possible future at Joe Gibbs Racing at NASCAR’s second highest level.

With Bell likely replacing him behind the wheel of the #95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota, the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota will need a new driver. Perhaps DiBenedetto can be that driver.

Additionally, perhaps if a Stewart-Haas Racing Cup Series ride isn’t in the cards for DiBenedetto, an Xfinity Series ride with the team could be. If they opt to replace Clint Bowyer and/or Daniel Suarez in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series driver Cole Custer would likely be promoted, which would leave the seat of the #00 Ford open for a new driver, possibly DiBenedetto.

At this point, despite the fact that Matt DiBenedetto losing his ride with Leavine Family Racing is extremely unfortunate, there are still options for him next year in NASCAR, even if not in the Cup Series. He has taken the opportunity that he was given this year to truly showcase his talent, and that certainly still counts for something in a sport dominated by sponsor-based contracts.