Qualifying in the Top 15, Matt DiBenedetto will be Itching to Prove a Point After Struggling for a Seat in 2024

Published 04/06/2024, 4:00 PM EDT

For a long time, Matt DiBenedetto was riding a wave of uncertainty concerning his stock car racing future. His heartfelt social media posts and mysterious emojis kept fans on the edge of their seats. Before the start of this season, he was actively seeking a new opportunity that aligns with his aspirations. Finally, on March 20th of this year, things changed.

Last month, it was made official that the 32-year-old will be driving for Viking Motorsports entering 5 Xfinity Series races under the RSS Racing banner. While his return to NASCAR was marked with an 18th place finish at Richmond, this weekend at Martinville, there may be more reasons for fans to back him up!

Right now, RSS Racing is buzzing with excitement as all four of their cars have successfully qualified for the upcoming Xfinity race. Matt DiBenedetto, in particular, secured the fourteenth position in the qualifiers.

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The California-based driver’s fans would have their hopes up. After his P18 finish at Richmond, and the upcoming race at Martinsville, DiBenedetto will have three more tracks [Texas, Dover, and Talladega] where he could impress teams.

Qualifying is complete at Martinsville Speedway. All four cars are in the race.
Ryan Sieg will start 8th
Matt DiBenedetto will start 14th
Kyle Sieg will start 28th
Blaine Perkins will start 30th pic.twitter.com/LtrEI3GbUO
— RSS Racing (@RSSRacing__) April 5, 2024

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To be back after a long break indeed ignited a spark within DiBenedetto. While his return was just announced, he had mentioned how he missed driving for NASCAR, despite being busy with other ventures.

He had said, “After starting 2024 with no ride, it has been an interesting test of faith. Although I have some business and things outside of racing, it doesn’t fill the void of racing in NASCAR. This opportunity with Viking and the No. 38 team not only excited the heck out of me for the sake of getting back behind the wheel. But also because I can sense the passion and commitment to the sport from Don and the whole group.”

In 2023, DiBenedetto drove for Truck Series team Rackley W.A.R. before they decided to remove him from the seat of the No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado.

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The contract with Viking Motorsports could be a new lease on life for DiBenedetto

Don Sackett, the owner of Viking Motorsports, has expressed optimism about DiBenedetto’s continued involvement with the team. Beyond the five confirmed races, there is hope that DiBenedetto will stay with the team. Viking Motorsports sees potential in him, not only as a driver but also as a potential partner. Their aspiration is for him to consider a long-term commitment.

They want him to possibly stay in the Xfinity series and contribute to the team’s success. “Our hope is that he goes the whole season with us. And maybe if he wants to stay in Xfinity and become a partner in a racing team, and maybe make it a long-term thing, if that’s something that interests him,” said Sackett as per frontstretch.com.

Could this be the start of something new for Matt DiBenedetto? We will soon find out.

Matt Dibenedetto Finally to Have a “Long Term Plan” After Struggling to Find a Seat for 2024

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Written by:

Mamata Mukherjee is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Combining her love for writing and motorsports she has created some interesting and in-depth stories on drivers like Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joining ES with 3 years of experience in the field of writing, Mamata feels right at home in her role as a NASCAR Journalist.

Edited by:

Ranvijay Singh