In their first year together, Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Wrangler RIGGS team have scored three top-three finishes, all on 1.5-mile intermediate tracks. There have been two runner-up finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a third-place at Kentucky Speedway.
So it’s not surprising that DiBenedetto is optimistic headed into Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, one of his favorites among the intermediate tracks due to its slick surface and multiple lanes.
Tracks like Kansas Speedway allow DiBenedetto to capitalize on one his driving strengths, which is gaining positions on restarts through aggressive tactics.
“Mile-and-a-half tracks are a strong point for us this year for sure,” DiBenedetto said. “The Menards/Wrangler RIGGS team has learned what feel I need, and we have gotten very strong at those type places.
“We also have had strong restarts which help us a lot.”
In his last appearance at Kansas, in July’s Super Start Batteries 400, DiBenedetto was able to make up numerous positions on restarts, taking advantage of the track’s multiple grooves, only to see his night ended when he was swept up in a chain-reaction wreck.
But that experience didn’t dampen his enthusiasm over Sunday’s race.
“Kansas is one of the most fun mile-and-a-halfs for all the lane choices you have there,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
DiBenedetto and the Menards/Wrangler RIGGS Mustang will start 18th in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400, which is set to get the green flag just after 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time with TV coverage on NBC.
Menards
A family owned company started in 1958, Menards is headquartered in Eau Claire, WI. Menards has more than 300 retail stores located throughout the Midwest in the states of IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI and WY. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader. It’s famous slogan “Save Big Money at Menards” is widely known and easy to remember. For more information, visit Menards.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.
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.
