Matt DiBenedetto revealed via Twitter Thursday that the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season will be his only season as driver of the #95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota.
“I got the devastating news that I will not be able to return to Leavine Family Racing next season,” DiBenedetto [@MattDRacing] tweeted.
“Nonetheless, I can’t express how thankful 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-fives, top-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 continue my dream and allow me to win for them.
“Thank you so much to all my fans for supporting me through this journey.”
Popular speculation has NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Christopher Bell moving up to the Cup Series to replace DiBenedetto at LFR. Leavine Family Racing is in its first year of a technical alliance with powerhouse team Joe Gibbs Racing, and Bell drives for JGR in the Xfinity Series. JGR has not rum for Bell at the Cup level without getting ride of one of its current Cup Series drivers — Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones or Martin Truex Jr.
The 2019 season has been DiBenedettoi's best in the Cup Series. He has two top-five finishes in the first 23 races, including his career-first at Sonoma Raceway. He also has four top-10 finishes, so far, this season, half of his caeer-tally. DiBenedetto is in his fifth season of Cup Series competition. Before joining LFR ahead of the 2019 season, he drove for teams including BK Racing at Go FAS Racing.
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