DiBenedetto was equally as appreciative of veteran crew chief Gene Nead, who led his Speedweeks efforts and was the glue that held many of the same crew members that his driver had worked with at BK Racing together as they moved on to this new opportunity.
“We’ve taken the team and brought in some really good people,” DiBenedetto emphasized. “I’m so lucky to have my crew chief, Gene Nead, who came in and assembled some of the best guys we could possibly get, so we have some real quality people, some of the folks that were at BK with me. It’s amazing to have that tight of a group, where they are so dedicated to follow me and Gene wherever we go. That’s special. You don’t find that often, so we have such a great relationship and I think that’s where we’re gonna turn a lot of heads this year and surprise everybody.”
“You’re only as good as the people around you and we have really good people. I’m fortunate to have them. We’re gonna turn some heads. We have 15 employees total versus some people who have 400-500, but we have 15 good, quality people and our goal is to over-achieve all year.”
DiBenedetto scored his career-best effort of sixth with BK at Bristol Motor Speedway last spring, a gutsy result that came in large part to varying strategy and tires that most of the field didn’t have in the closing laps as he found his way forward.
But he said this finish was different compared to that one. It was about attrition, yes, but also about realizing a childhood goal in the most special of ways.
“It was definitely different. This one was a little bit more survival. That one was a little bit more racing up there, so I would say they’re different feelings, but being in the Daytona 500 in the first place is unbelievable, so I’m gonna say this one does feel really good just because it’s the Daytona 500,” DiBenedetto smiled. “It’s been my dream since I was five to even be in it, so to get a top-10 in it, I’m just checking off all these dreams come true.”
For the 25-year-old from Grass Valley, California — who drove for BK Racing in every one of his prior Cup starts before making the move to Go FAS — Sunday was an effort that proved he had found a home.
Yes, it was with a different team and a different manufacturer, but it wasn’t about the name attached to the car.
Instead, it was about the crew that he brought with him, and perhaps a little bit of the old adage, “Home is where the heart is.”
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: editor@racechaseronline.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: news@racechaseronline.com
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