NASCAR: Matt DiBenedetto’s road to redemption begins now
By Randy Smith
The 2021 NASCAR season saw a more candid side of Matt DiBenedetto. Now heading into the 2022 season, he has a shot for redemption.
Matt DiBenedetto’s NASCAR career has been the one of ups and downs. A journeyman in the Cup Series, DiBenedetto has driven for now-defunct teams to alliance-based teams. Now he finds himself in a much more precarious position than before.
The 30-year-old Grass Valley, California native went to social media to voice his frustrations after it was confirmed that Xfinity Series driver Harrison Burton would be replacing him behind the wheel of the iconic #21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing.
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Additionally, after NASCAR President Steve Phelps denounced the “Let’s Go Brandon!” phrase, DiBenedetto once again went to social media, only this time to echo the words that NASCAR had been trying to separate from the sport.
NASCAR Superstar @mattdracing: LETS GO BRANDON! pic.twitter.com/w7eJhplzh2
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 7, 2021
Though DiBenedetto didn’t earn a Cup Series ride for 2022, his ride for redemption has arrived.
Rackley WAR recently announced that the seven-year Cup Series veteran will drive the #25 Chevrolet full-time for the team in the 2022 Truck Series season.
Welcome @mattdracing to the Rackley W.A.R. family for the 2022 @NASCAR_Trucks season! We are glad you’re here! 👏🏻 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/wnhDLQ4e0C
— Rackley W.A.R. (@Rackley_WAR) January 6, 2022
Rackley WAR debuted last year and saw names including Josh Berry, Brett Moffitt and William Byron compete in their trucks. The team’s best finish was a 10th place finish with Berry behind the wheel at Texas Motor Speedway. Now they turn to a veteran in DiBenedetto in an attempt to score their first win.
DiBenedetto is no stranger to the underdog moniker with which NASCAR fans have associated him throughout his career. As he still chases his first win in any of NASCAR’s three touring series, he’ll have to do it with a startup team.
The move pairs a veteran driver with flashes of winning ability with a team hungry to make a name for themselves in the Truck Series. This move will show DiBenedetto’s ceiling as a driver, as he won’t have to compete with Cup Series drivers on a week-to-week basis.
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DiBenedetto’s first start with Rackley WAR is scheduled to take place at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 18 in the NextEra Energy 250.