After a frustrating start that saw them fall two laps off the pace, Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team battled back late in Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway and came away with a 15th-place finish.
DiBenedetto lined up 21st for the start of Sunday’s race, which was run in front of a strong crowd surrounding the venerable half-mile track.
The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang wasn’t at its best initially, and DiBenedetto fell a lap down after just 51 laps. He ended the first 130-lap Stage in 27th place, two laps behind the leaders.
The team used the wave-around to rejoin the lead lap at the start of the second Stage, but the struggles continued and he again went two laps down.
After several adjustments to the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang, the tide began to turn, and 358 laps into the race DiBenedetto was finally back on the lead lap and showing good speed.
The team’s troubles weren’t over, as DiBenedetto was penalized a lap for pitting outside his pit box. When he rejoined the race, he was nearly two laps down, but held on and waved around to the lead lap with 60 circuits remaining.
In the closing laps, with mayhem occurring in front of and behind him, DiBenedetto worked his way into the top 20 and then picked up five more spots, including one in an overtime run to the checkered flag, to finish 15th.
“It was a very long day,” DiBenedetto said. “With no practice we weren’t where we needed to be at the start of the race, so we had to work really hard adjusting on the car.
“We just didn’t have the strength we normally have at Martinsville. We got two laps down, then had a penalty for pitting outside the box, but we got back on the lead lap and got a 15th for the day.
“It was definitely eventful from start to finish, but as incredibly messy as it was in the beginning, we were able to fight back, get a decent finish that we’ll take and move on to the next one.”
DiBenedetto and the No. 21 team will close the 2021 season in next Sunday’s finale at Phoenix Raceway.
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, visit www.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.
