NASCAR’s elite Cup Series is set to spend Independence Day weekend at an appropriately named track – Road America – where the Cup Series will be returning for the Jockey Made In America 250. It’s the first race at the Elkhart Lake, Wisc., track for NASCAR’s top circuit since a one-off event in 1956.
For Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy team – and lots of others – there’s no better place to run on the Fourth of July. The track is the home venue for sponsor Menards, which is based in Eau Claire, and the 14-turn, 4.048-mile course is one where DiBenedetto has performed well in the past.
In 2019, driving in an Xfinity Series race for Joe Gibbs Racing, he started second, led the most laps and was running second and chasing down eventual winner Christopher Bell when he was taken out in an incident on the last lap. He also has three other Xfinity starts there.
“Road America is one of my favorite tracks in the country,” DiBenedetto said, adding that coming so close to a win there in 2019 is still on his mind. “We led a bunch and had trouble on pit road and other things going wrong that cost us the win.”
He said the track surface has changed significantly since his first Xfinity race there in June of 2010.
“I couldn’t believe how slick that track has gotten over the years,” he said. “It’s a blast to drive, very technical and the best part is how passionate the fans are out there.
“I can’t even imagine how crazy it’s going to be with those passionate fans and it being the Fourth of July weekend, which is extremely special.”
DiBenedetto and the Menards/Dutch Boy team will get a chance to tune on their No. 21 Mustang during a practice session Saturday at 11:35 a.m. (12:35 Eastern Time).
Qualifying will be held Sunday at 10:05 a.m. (11:05 Eastern), and the Jockey Made In America 250 is set to get the green flag just after 1:30 p.m. (2:30 Eastern) with TV coverage on NBC.
The 62-lap race will have Stage breaks at Laps 14 and 29.
Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.
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.
