Matt DiBenedetto announces pending departure from Leavine Family Racing

NASCAR driver Matt DiBenedetto is seeking a new ride for 2020

In 2018, Matt DiBenedetto announced that he would leave Go Fas Racing. At that point, he didn’t have a new ride lined up. He took a leap of faith in search of a better ride.

For most of 2018, Kasey Kahne was the pilot for LFR. Surprise health issues required Kahne to jump out of the seat before the end of his farewell season.

The door opened for DiBenedetto as a result for Kahne’s retirement. Leavine Family Racing signed DiBenedetto on a 1-year contract.

In 2017 the driver brought an average finish of 27.1. In 2018 he improved to a 27.0 in his final year with Go Fas Racing. But, 2019 is DiBenedetto’s best season to date with an average finish of 20.4.

The 28-year-old has turned 43438 laps over his 163 race career. In 2019, DiBenedetto has scored two top-5s. On his fifth year in the sport, these are the first top-5 runs of his career.

Matt DiBenedetto
Matt DiBenedetto

Matt DiBenedetto announces departure from LFR

Matt DiBenedetto posted the following note this morning:

“I got the devastating news that I will not be able to return to Leavine Family Racing next season. Nonetheless, I can’t express how thanlful I am for Bob, Sharon, Matt Diliberto and everyone at LFR and Toyota for allowing me to do exactly what I set out to do, which was showcase my talent.”

“It has been exciting for us as a team to get top-5s, To-10s and lead the most laps in the Daytona 500.”

“I have every intention of driving my heart out the rest of the season to not only get more of these kinds of finishes, but to get them their first win. I would love to do that for them.”

“Although this is a difficult time for me, nothing is going to stop me from winning in the NASCAR Cup Series. I’m hopeful there is a team out there that will give me the chance to contribute my dream and all me to win for them.”

“Thank you so much to all my fans for supporting me through this journey.”

What to look for

Ahead of the 2019 season, Leavine Family Racing made the switch to Toyota. They also signed an alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Joe Gibbs lost an alliance early 2019. Furniture Row Racing closed their doors a year after winning the championship. Now, Joe Gibbs is expecting LFR to step-up and become as good as Furniture Row.

Christopher Bell has yet to turn a lap in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition. He sits in the Joe Gibbs Racing pipeline.

However, as of last week, there was no opens seats in the Toyota camp. Now, there’s room for movement with TRD.

It’s highly likely Christopher Bell takes this ride. Or that one of the current JGR drivers moves to LFR to make room for Bell inside the JGR house.

More

Matt DiBenedetto to Leavine Family Racing for 2019

Kasey Kahne abruptly ends his NASCAR career; Over to the dirt tracks!

Matt DiBenedetto will part ways with Go Fas Racing in 2019

Kasey Kahne admits that health issues played a role in his retirement

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Matt DiBenedetto | Kasey Kahne | Leavine Family Racing | Kasey Kahne Racing | NASCAR

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