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Doc Love
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IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE
Matt DiBenedetto Earns Top 5 Finish in Bailey’s 300 Debut
Martinsville, VA (September 30TH, 2007) – The annual Bailey’s 300 held at Martinsville Speedway located in Martinsville, VA continues to be the richest and most important event for competitors in NASCAR’s later model stock car division. This event has defined careers for short track hopeful’s paving the way towards higher level racing under the NASCAR banner for stars like Mike Skinner, Dennis Setzer & David Hyder. This event can also let tomorrow’s star shine brightly today with a solid performance.
Sixteen year old Matt DiBenedetto originally from California now races out of Hickory, NC first gained attention at the race track from the difficulty in pronouncing his last name properly. But now a days, all the attention now is focused on the skill and ability this young man possess as he seemingly came from no where posting very competitive lap times during the open test day on September 19th, 2007 with all of the well known “favorites” also testing. DiBenedetto and crew carried that momentum on to the actual race week end and the car was bad fast right off of the trailer.
The garage area was over flowing with cars on Saturday September 29th, 2007. 49 teams from North Carolina, 46 teams from Virginia, 8 teams from South Carolina, 2 teams from Tennessee and 1 team each from the states of West Virginia, Maryland & Florida would make up the 108 teams lined up for qualifying. Only the top 22 cars in qualifying were to be lock into the show with the top 5 finishers from each of the 4 qualifying heat races scheduled for Sunday September 30th, 2007 placing cars in the final 20 spots to complete the starting line up.
Wayne Ramsey from Amherst, VA held the LMSC track qualifying record of 20.759 seconds at an average of 91.218 miles per hour. DiBenedetto rounded the track with confidence during his qualifying session posting a solid time of 20.525 at an average of 92.258 mph around the half-mile facility placing him 9th overall when qualifying was officially over securing his spot in the 2007 running of the Bailey’s 300 at the Martinsville Speedway in his first ever attempt. DiBenedetto was one of 54 drivers to break the LMSC qualifying record set by Ramsey in 2006. Davin Scites from Cleveland, NC took top honors in qualifying with a time of 20.395 at an average of 92.846 mph and Justin Johnson from Durham, NC would hold the final guaranteed starting spot with a time of 20.623 at an average of 91.820 making the separation of the top 22 starting spots only .228 seconds.
The starting line up was peppered with seasoned veterans, many track champions through-out the region, several past top qualifiers and 8 past winners of this event, still DiBenedetto remained cool, calm and confident going into the feature event. “It’s pretty cool seeing my name in there with the likes of Philip Morris, Frank Deiny Jr.” said DiBenedetto, “Dennis Setzer is starting right in front of me and I can‘t think of anyone better to show me around this place. My dad and I agree that I need to stay close to Dennis (Setzer) so hopefully I can learn more about this place and ride with him to the front of the pack” Said DiBenedetto with a grin full of braces.
When the green flag flew DiBenedetto raced the track like a pro and did not worry about those who wanted to be over aggressive way too early in the event. As soon as DiBenedetto would let someone by he would pass them right back with-in a few laps as they were being plucked off the wall by the tow truck. DiBenedetto had a really close call early in the event when Owen Miller from Emporia, VA forced the issue with C.E. Falk from Virginia Beach, VA which sent both cars into the spin cycle in turn one bunching up the field causing a domino effect on the back end of the top 10. Dennis Setzer jumped the inside curve with DiBenedetto in tow. Somewhere along the line DiBenedetto sustained major damage to the nose of his car. Luckily, there were no signs of oil or water leaking from the front of the car. Crew Chief Greg Marlow did order a pit stop just yet even though DiBenedetto reported that the water temp was running a little high once racing resumed. Things mostly settled down near the front and the guys started logging laps. DiBenedetto found himself in 6th position by lap 60 and cruised to 4th by lap 90 where he stayed until the competition caution flew at lap 100 for a 10 minute intermission for teams to make changes and repairs to their race cars and change two tires if desired. The format for this event called for a redraw of the top 6 or so at the half way point of the race. Philip Morris from Ruckersville, VA lead at the half way point followed by Davin Scites, Dennis Setzer, DiBenedetto, Jamie Caudill and Deac McCaskill rounding out the top 6.
Crew Chief Greg Marlow quickly focused on the damage to the nose of the car and started making repairs. Amazingly Marlow organized adjustments car to the chassis and air pressure to the tires via radio to other crew members all the while hammering away on the sheet metal on the nose of the. It was as if we were watching a fine conductor of a full ensemble orchestra making sweet soothing music. The reshuffle defiantly affected the leaders but did not affect DiBenedetto as he remained 4th as the cars returned to the track to resume racing. Deac McCaskill was placed on the point after the re-draw followed by Caudill, Setzer, DiBenedetto, Morris and Scites now in 6th position.
In just 15 laps DiBenedetto raced into 3rd position and stayed there for quite some time. Setzer would take control in the second half of the race. McCaskill would fall back a bit but Scites would get by DiBenedetto late as laps were winding down. Another competition caution slowed the race at lap 190 to put cars not on the lead lap at the tail end of the field so the lead lap cars could race to the finish. A late crash would slow down the action for the final time forcing extra laps to complete the event. Dennis Setzer was first to the strip when the checkered flag flew followed by Jamey Caudill, Davin Scites, Matt DiBenedetto and Matt McCall rounded out the top 5.
Matt DiBenedetto does not have a full year of racing LMSC’s under his belt yet and he raced inside the top 5 all day with the big dogs in the biggest race of his career, the 2007 Bailey’s 300 at the Martinsville Speedway. At 16 years old he continues to display experience beyond his years. Most rookies at this mega event crumble under the extreme pressure just to make the event. DiBenedetto posses true natural, raw talent that has produced track championships and feature wins at every level along the way, so honestly it is no surprise to see this young man have such a great run at Martinsville. When DiBenedetto finally climbed out of the car he knew what he had accomplished and had every right to be proud, “Holy Cow” he said, “Please somebody just pinch me. I got to looking in the mirror and thought to my self, wow, there’s Philip (Morris) Frank Deiny Jr. I better get going these guys are gonna blow past me any minute. I never thought we could run with these big dogs. Greg (Marlow) and his guys had the car so great it was unbelievable. The nose of the car was so high in the air it made the car very tight. Greg had me do things I would have never thought of and it worked too, believe me, it worked.” Said DiBenedetto with a huge smile chugging ice cold water.
Fast Facts – Matt DiBenedetto
Originally from California
Turned 16 years old in July 2007
Family moved to Hickory. NC to further Matt’s racing career
Racing with the UARA-Stars Late Model Tour
Leads Daniel,Pope III by 200 points for Rookie of the year with 3 events left
Sets 4th in over-all points standings…only 93 points behind leader Mark Setzer
UARA-Stars 2007 Stats…2 Wins…6 top 5’s…9 top 10’s…in 13 events
1 Pole…Average Starting Position 7.8
Matt will return to racing action with the UARA-Stars October 6th, 2007.
Greensville-Pickens Speedway, Greensville, SC for the running of the
Hometown Superette presented by: Reynolds Insurance Agency of Marietta, SC
Number: 41
Sponsors: Texas Road House, Hickory Auto Group, Corrieher Implement - Bad Boy Mowers
Greg Marlow Chassis
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