Leavine Family Racing Tag

By David Morgan, Associate Editor BRISTOL, Tenn. – Earlier this week, Matt DiBenedetto finally got the news he had been dreading. Despite being in the midst of a career year, he would not be returning to the driver’s seat of the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota next season. The Grass Valley, California native classified the news as “devastating” when it was released, but after some time to process what had happened, the always optimistic DiBenedetto did his best to keep a smile on his face despite the uncertainty thatRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor BRISTOL, Tenn. – Under bright blue skies in East Tennessee, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series got its first look at Bristol Motor Speedway ahead of Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race. After what was a mostly one groove race in Thursday night’s Truck Series race at the track, it was much of the same in first practice on Friday. Erik Jones, who led both Xfinity Series practices on Thursday, was once again at the top of the board in the first ofRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent BRISTOL, Tenn. – Despite the marked improvement that Matt DiBenedetto has shown, his tenure at Leavine Family Racing will end after the 2019 season. Following a trend, DiBenedetto took a chance on himself, and moved from Go Fas Racing to LFR following the 2018 off-season. However, forces outside of the Grass Valley, Calif.-native’s control have resulted in a brief opportunity. DiBenedetto will now be a free agent at the conclusion of 2019. “I got the devastating news that I will not be able to returnRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent Leavine Family Racing’s Matt DiBenedetto shined once again as he scored a top-10 finish at Watkins Glen International. The driver of the No. 95 Procore Toyota Camry broke into the top-10 on the final restart of the Go Bowling at the Glen on lap 66. DiBenedetto picked off several positions on the chaotic restart. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver passed Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski as the field jockeyed for position. DiBenedetto then battled Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, and Ryan Blaney for position.Read More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent After a quiet but strong run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Matt DiBenedetto walked away with a top-five finish. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver lined up inside the top-10 on the final restart for the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301. DiBenedetto’s No. 95 Procore Toyota Camry picked off car after car during the final 32 lap run. He battled fellow Toyota Racing drivers Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, as well as Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Ryan Newman. DiBenedetto slipped by both TruexRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent Through the carnage and smoke, Matt DiBenedetto emerged unscathed on his way to a Top-10 finish at Daytona International Speedway. With weather in the area, the intensity increased dramatically in the final stage of the Coke Zero Sugar 400. DiBenedetto attempted to stay in line with his fellow Toyota Racing drivers. His No. 95 Procore Toyota Camry was shuffled out of line and he found himself in the middle of the hornets’ nest. On lap 118, contact between Austin Dillon and Clint Bowyer at theRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — In 223 NASCAR national touring starts, with 155 in the Cup Series, Matt DiBenedetto has never scored a top-five. That all changed Sunday as a fourth-place result in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway capped off a career-defining afternoon. Through tremendous strategy and a solid all around car, DiBenedetto and the entire Leavine Family Racing kept working on the No. 95 Procore Toyota Camry all afternoon, and it paid off as he’s now 25th in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standingsRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Halfway through last season, Matt DiBenedetto made the choice to bet on himself if he was going to have any future in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The Grass Valley, Calif. native announced he was leaving Go Fas Racing, the team he had been with for the two seasons prior, without a place to land for the 2019 season. That gamble could pay off in spades if this season goes to plan. Not long after he made the decision to lookRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer *Editor’s note: Motorsports Tribune will be previewing the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season for the full-time drivers in the series leading into next month’s 61st running of the Daytona 500. Age: 27 Years in Cup: Four Career Wins: Zero While Matt DiBenedetto joins a growing list of NASCAR drivers taking a chance of themselves, his journey will come full circle in 2019. DiBenedetto will move from Go Fas Racing, his home since 2017, to Leavine Family Racing. The move also marks a return to Toyota Racing, and anRead More

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer As with the ‘game of musical chairs’ that takes place at season’s end, Matt DiBenedetto’s relationship with Go Fas Racing, and Ford Performance, came to an end at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The underdog Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team struggled throughout much of the Ford EcoBoost 400. DiBenedetto’s No. 32 Zynga Poker Ford Fusion spent much of the race outside the top-20. In practice and qualifying, he struggled just to break into the top-30. Untimely cautions, and the overall lack of speed, left the Ford PerformanceRead More