NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Matt DiBenedetto in 2021
By Asher Fair
Team Penske
As previously noted, Team Penske and Wood Brothers Racing have had a technical alliance since the 2015 NASCAR Cup Series season, and that could set up a move for Matt DiBenedetto to be promoted to the three-car Ford team in the 2021 season if he impresses in his first year associated with Roger Penske’s organization.
Team Penske’s current driver lineup of Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney is one of the best in the Cup Series, with Logano and Keselowski being two former champions and Blaney being a rising superstar. It is hard to see that driver lineup changing anytime soon.
Logano is under contract to drive the #22 Ford through the 2023 season, and Blaney recently signed another multi-year contract extension after entering the year without a deal that extended beyond 2020.
However, Keselowski’s contract, which was signed in July of 2017 right around the team when Blaney signed his initial deal with the team, is set to expire after the 2020 season.
While Keselowski would seem to have no reason to look elsewhere and Team Penske would seem to have no reason to want to get rid of him, he has been linked to other rides, most notably the #48 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports to replace retiring seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson. He hasn’t ruled out listening to the offers other teams, either.
Other than Team Penske Xfinity Series driver Austin Cindric, there doesn’t appear to be anybody on Penske’s immediate radar to join his Cup Series operation.
The odds that Keselowski leaves the team after the 2020 season are unlikely, but if he does end up taking off, don’t rule out DiBenedetto getting the call to serve as the replacement in 2021.