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The 61st edition of the Daytona 500 was both an "incredible and heartbreaking" day for Matt DiBenedetto of Leavine Family Racing.
In his first race with the LFR-Joe Gibbs Racing alliance – and team leader Mike Wheeler, who worked with Denny Hamlin last year – DiBenedetto achieved a career performance. A performance that included not only field stimulation, a good part of the day in the top 10 and a smooth job, but also the driver who led the most laps (49).
"Amazing how fast my car was," said DiBenedetto. "I've never had a piece under me like that, so it's amazing. I really have very good teammates. I have to give them a lot of credit to help me answer any questions I ask them. Kyle Busch is obviously a good player to rely on and I bother him.
"It's so heartbreaking, but it's really good to lead as many laps, to move forward in all these things and I'm very grateful to all my fans. I've had so much support that it's overwhelming. They helped me a lot to where I am. I am just grateful for this opportunity. "
Yes, grief. This part took place when Paul Menard made DiBenedetto turn on lap 192, triggering the "big shot". It was one of 23 cars assembled in the accident, which was the biggest crash of the afternoon. Unfortunately, he ended DiBenedetto's day with a 28th place when he seemed strong enough to claim first place.
"It was only a race contract," DiBenedetto said. "Nothing intentional. I have an excellent relationship with Paul. I think he was trying to sneak in to my outside but was not quite there and when he hit me, he cut my right back and tilted me into the wall. Just a race contract. We can not do anything about it. We spent a hell of a day, I'll tell you.
"The car was fast and I am extremely grateful to Toyota, Leavine Family Racing, my sponsor, Procore. I do not know if everyone understands the opportunity that awaits me and I will always be grateful. I have an amazing team leader with Mike Wheeler and great people around me. We have shown what we are here to do, so we have accomplished a lot. Led most rounds, had a fast racing car, so I'm grateful for that, but I'm not going to lie, I'm heartbroken. "
DiBenedetto's performance was hailed by his alliance teammates, as well as NASCAR Executive Vice President Steve O'Donnell.
"I was not surprised to have Wheels out there, to have JGR gear, etc., and to be an affiliate team," said Kyle Busch. "I have the impression that they did a very good job and that Matt did a great job at the wheel. He was fast, he was smooth, he looked really good. I'm just disappointed that I can not be here at the end. "
Joe Gibbs said that No. 95 was an important partner for his organization and that he was "delighted" to see LFR operate as he did. The winner of the race, Hamlin, said that DiBenedetto had done a great job in the repechage.
"Obviously," Wheels "has a lot of notes of what we did here and this car was great, super strong," he said. "It will be very important for us to have a solid car and gather more information because as an organization, we do not want to lose a car, and by losing Furniture Row last year, let's hope this team of 95 can resume where they left off.
Before Sunday, DiBenedetto had only taken one trip to Daytona in seven starts. With 49 laps to his name, he also led more laps in a single race than in the previous four seasons (23).
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