The way Matt DiBenedetto looks at Homestead-Miami Speedway is there’s nowhere to go but up.
In his previous five Cup Series starts there, all with smaller teams, he has an average finish of 28th and a best finish of 20th last year.
Now he’s set to take on the 1.5-mile oval in the potent No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang.
“I’ve always had bad runs at Homestead in the past,” DiBenedetto said. “But now, for the first time, I’m actually excited to go there. Being behind the wheel of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang will be my best opportunity there.”
“I’m going to try to redeem myself for my earlier runs there. My Wood Brothers team has great cars, and we have good speed everywhere.”
Sunday’s race at Homestead is expected to be another hot one for DiBenedetto and his fellow Cup drivers, and it comes on the heels of two hot, physically demanding races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway.
“It’s going to be another hot one,” he said. “Especially with the right-side windows we have to run in these cars.”
DiBenedetto said his fellow Motorcraft/Quick Lane team members have worked hard to make sure he stays as cool as possible during the races.
“I’m thankful my team has done such a good job with the cooling,” he said. “It’s allowed me to feel better than a lot of the guys around me.
“It been really hot and humid, and that takes a lot out of us.”
And with three grueling Cup races in a span of eight days, he’s had to adjust his mid-week schedule to prepare for the next race.
“I’ve had to back off on working out,” he said. “I’m recovering for a couple of days, then rehydrating for the next race.
“But I’m also enjoying getting to race this much.”
There will be no qualifying or practice prior to the start of the Dixie Vodka 400, which is set to get the green flag just after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday with TV coverage on FOX.
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About Motorcraft:
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln Dealers, independent distributors and automotive parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
About Omnicraft:
Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visitwww.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.
About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine vehicle maintenance including tire repair and replacement with a Low Tire Price Guarantee and a full menu of automotive services including oil and filter, brakes, alignments, batteries, and shocks and struts on all vehicle makes and models. Service is performed by certified technicians at more than 1,000 locations worldwide while you wait, and no appointment is necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 200,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.
