NASCAR
Matt DiBenedetto Takes First NASCAR Triumph in Talladega Truck Race
TALLADEGA, Ala. – A sight of multiple heartbreaks becomes the biggest career win of Matt DiBenedetto. After being out front by a nose when the caution flag fell just before the finish, the Rackley WAR No. 25 went to victory lane for the first time. The streak of no Truck Playoff driver ever winning at Talladega remains intact, as DiBenedetto takes his first NASCAR victory.
Both opening Stages were relatively calm; Kyle Busch Motorsports teammates John Hunter Nemechek and Chandler Smith split them after starting on the front row.
Stage 1 did prematurely end under caution after a scary moment for one driver. Running in the top-10, Jordan Anderson’s truck burst into heavy flames, hitting the inside wall after losing control. After escaping immediately from the wounded No. 3, Anderson was taken by helicopter to a local hospital for burn treatment. At the time of this writing, Anderson has not yet been released from the University of Alabama Birmingham Medical Center.
NASCAR reports that Jordan Anderson is awake and alert after this scary crash at Talladega. pic.twitter.com/z3qe4VpWWz
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 1, 2022
Over the closing laps, it was a door-to-door battle between Playoff contender Christian Eckes and Carson Hocevar. After the 42 slowed and was penalized for intentionally spinning, this brought Ben Rhodes into the mix. While these two drag-raced to the finish, it allowed Bret Holmes and Matt DiBenedetto to get a huge run coming to the checkers. After Corey Heim was spun, the caution came out with DiBenedetto’s bumper just ahead of Holmes. Despite the 32 crossing the line first, the 25 was ruled the winner.
“Oh man, it’s been such a long time coming,” DiBenedetto said. “Praise God, all glory to God, and thank you so much. Man my fans are so thankful, they’ve beared with me through so much, including me being a reckless human being sometimes. So much life change, I’m just so thankful. I love you all, the fans, Rackley Roofing, this whole team.”
“I think my heart rate was higher waiting for that than [taking] the white flag,” DiBenedetto said of the few minutes of uncertainty if he won. “It just seems so surreal.”
Trucks go sliding everywhere as @mattdracing is ruled the Talladega winner. #ChevySilverado250 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/RilVaGHTLH
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 1, 2022
Squeezing between DiBenedetto and Holmes in the final results would be Ben Rhodes in second. Other top finishers included Ryan Preece, Christian Eckes, Hailie Deegan, Chase Purdy, Colby Howard, Parker Kligerman, and Tyler Ankrum. Hear from some of these drivers and more Playoff contenders below.
Oh so close to a maiden win at his home track, @bretholmes23 describes his emotions waiting to see if he’s ruled the winner. #ChevySilverado250 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ugDWFve4dG
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 1, 2022
After being involved in multiple cautions, @chasepurdy12 comes home unofficially 7th from Talladega. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/htr7mcVkpG
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 1, 2022
.@CSmithDrive recaps a day where he won a Stage, but finished 14th unofficially. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/aXOs4HPRy7
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 1, 2022
.@zanesmith77 blew a tire at the Stage 2 finish, but battled back to finish 17th.
With a bit of a cushion, the regular season champ heads to Homestead sitting pretty at a track he has little experience on. #ChevySilverado250 #NASCARPlayoffs #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/TUmIesV81f
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 1, 2022
.@StewartFriesen recaps his day, bringing a truck home clean in 20th. #ChevySilverado250 #NASCARPlayoffs #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/2QV4CgkAw0
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 1, 2022
.@JHNemechek also won a Stage today from the pole, but finished a dismal 24th. He goes to the Homestead elimination race narrowly below the cut line. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/GdJq2ZQUy2
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 1, 2022
The Truck Series will be off for a few weeks, before their Round of 8 finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Baptist Health 200 will send three drivers onto the Championship 4 at Phoenix. The green flag at the Florida track will fall on October 22 at 1:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR
