![]() ![]() Paul is not only making a big decision for his life and career, but he's impacting my entire life, family and everything I've worked for my whole career." "One thing I've always said is a priority of mine has been always gaining respect of other drivers, of veterans like Paul, because they can be your best allies and a huge influence on your entire career," DiBenedetto said. "A little bit after that Bristol race weekend is when I got that first phone call and Paul was thinking about making this decision, so it all came together really quick," DiBenedetto said. ![]() Wood Brothers team co-owner Eddie Wood said DiBenedetto's name was the only one mentioned when he asked Menard for possible replacements and he was the only driver considered by the Woods and their partners at Penske. Four days earlier he had learned of his fate with Leavine. He presumably was caught in a numbers game with Toyota, which needed a Cup seat to move Christopher Bell up from Xfinity, although that move has not been announced.ĭiBenedetto, 28, has recorded six top-10 finishes over the last 10 Cup races, including three top-fives and a career-best second place Aug. The company will continue a full-season sponsorship in the Cup Series next year, split between DiBenedetto's car and the Penske car driven by Ryan Blaney, Menard said.Ī popular journeyman, DiBenedetto became more of a fan favorite when he was told in August he would not return to Leavine Family Racing despite having helped to elevate the team. The teams entered into an alliance in NASCAR in 2015. It also became a sponsor of Penske Racing, both its NASCAR and Ind圜ar programs, when Menard joined the Wood Brothers before last season. The chain of home improvement stores founded by his father, John, has been a big backer of Menard's career. He also won three times in the second-tier Xfinity Series, including his home-state races, in 2006 at the Milwaukee Mile and 2015 at Road America in Elkhart Lake. Menard has one victory in 460 starts the Cup Series, but it was a big one, the 2011 Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Menard's departure means NASCAR's top division won't have a full-time driver from Wisconsin for the first time since 1968. Trying to figure out what the next step is for sure but it's not going to be 38 weeks a year, I can tell you that."
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |