Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team closed out the 2021 season with a 12th-place finish in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. That finish pushed them up one spot to 18th in the final Cup Series standings. The difference in 18th place and 19th was just four points.
DiBenedetto started Sunday’s 312-lap race from 15th place and cracked the top 10 after just 15 circuits. He ran in or around the top 10 for the remainder of the first Stage, ending that 76-lap segment in 10th place and earning one point.
The second Stage saw the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang run in the top 10, and as high as sixth place, for much of that run. But a loss of positions on a restart at Lap 162 led to a 13th-place finish in Stage 2.
The team continued to show speed in the final Stage, but damage due to contact from another car hampered the effort. Still, DiBenedetto was able to drive up from 17th place to 12th over the final 60 laps.
The team closed out the season with three top-five, nine top-10 and 19 top-15 finishes. The No. 21 Mustang was running at the finish of all but two of 36 races.
Eddie Wood said he was proud of his team’s efforts, both in the finale at Phoenix and in the season as a whole.
“We’d like to thank Matt for what he did for us, as well as [crew chief] Jonathan Hassler and the rest of the 21 team,” Wood said. “We also appreciate all the support we’ve gotten from our friends at Ford Motor Company, our sponsors and affiliates, and especially the fans that have supported us week-in and week-out.
“And, finally, on behalf of the Wood family and our entire race team, we sincerely wish everyone a happy and safe offseason, and we’ll be back on track February 6 for The Clash at the LA Coliseum.”
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.
