The Curious case of Matt DiBenedetto

After a storybook 6th place finish for former BK Racing driver, Matt DiBenedetto. People began to realize that this young man, often nicknamed “DiBurrito” was the future of NASCAR despite getting often overlooked because he was driving for BK Racing, a very lackluster team. And after today, Matt DiBenedetto now has the chance to sign with a team that actually has the chance of running inside the Top 20.

He’s proven that he can run with the big boys of NASCAR despite the low funding. The 2016 was certainly eventful for the driver, with a 20th place finish at Phoenix, career-high 6th place finish at Bristol, 17th place finish at Bristol’s second race. People assume that he doesn’t show the prowess of some of the other small time drivers like Chris Buescher, Casey Mears, Landon Cassill, Michael McDowell, and Jeffery Earnhardt.

Matt DiBenedetto has true passion for NASCAR, when he earned that finish at Bristol, he was crying on the radio, and he didn’t even win the race. There hasn’t been a heartwarming moment like that in NASCAR, since possibly the races after Dale Earnhardt tragically passed at the ’01 Daytona 500. Matt DiBenedetto just screams passion whenever he is interviewed after a race, that is, if he actually gets interviewed. Matt is a very promising athlete and if no team takes his prowess, passion, and potential to heart, then they will be missing out.

With DiBenedetto’s finishes, which may influence which teams try to sign him, lack consistency, it still shouldn’t really matter because, he’s truly shown he can wheel any car he’s put behind. Let’s hope that he can get a full time ride for the inaugural Monster Energy Premier Series. And as it’s looking, he may be tapped for the 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford or the 44 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford.

*Photo via USAtoday.com