NASCAR: 4 possible teammates for Bubba Wallace in 2022
By Asher Fair
Possible Bubba Wallace teammates: No. 2 – Matt DiBenedetto
In an unlikely scenario where Kurt Busch and Bubba Wallace are not teammates in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, replacing Busch’s name with Matt DiBenedetto isn’t as far-fetched as it seems.
DiBenedetto once again finds himself as a pending free agent and in a similar situation to the ones he has been in over the last several seasons.
Many believe that he got a raw deal this time around. The initial plan was for Wood Brothers Racing to replace him with Team Penske Xfinity Series driver Austin Cindric this year, given the technical alliance between the two teams, but he was able to change their minds late last season and ended up staying behind the wheel of the #21 Ford for 2021.
But when it was announced that he would be staying, it was announced that Cindric would be replacing him after the 2021 season.
Things changed again, however. With Brad Keselowski leaving Team Penske for a driver/co-owner role at Roush Fenway Racing, Cindric is set to move to his #2 Ford next season instead. However, that didn’t translate to DiBenedetto retaining his ride, as he is set to be replaced by current Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Series driver Harrison Burton next year.
DiBenedetto has not yet won a race in the Cup Series; in fact, he hasn’t won any race in any series since 2011, which is why many believe he won’t get a third year in the iconic #21 car.
But he is known to have a good relationship with Denny Hamlin. Hamlin helped fund his entry with Go Fas Racing when there were doubts about the team continuing to field a car in March 2018, and he effectively apologized for passing him for the lead and the ensuing win at Bristol Motor Speedway in August 2019.
If for some reason Busch doesn’t sign, DiBenedetto getting this opportunity would be ideal.