Days After Ousting Joe Gibbs’ $5 Million Worth Pupil, Daniel Suarez’s SLM Team Announces Replacement

The Craftsman Truck Series is inching closer to a conclusion. The end is not just near for the season, but also some drivers stay in their respective teams. Joe Gibbs Racing is one such team that has been successful in all three national racing series. Owing to this, their stature and reputation for the development of drivers is renowned. Complying with how the season has gone about for their drivers, JGR has also made its decisions clear.

Rackley W.A.R. is one team that has availed the services of Joe Gibbs‘ drivers. Fielding Matt DiBenedetto in the #25 Chevrolet Silverado, the team has used its options wisely recently, which has paid off handsomely. However, the team is willing to repeat another questionable decision as Talladega approaches.

Rackley WAR set to replace Joe Gibbs’ driver

Rackley WAR hasn’t limited itself to just Truck Series. It has also ventured into the Super Late Model and Pro Late Model series. Featuring in Late Model competitions since 2008, they have also fielded Daniel Suarez as a part-time driver in the #99 previously. However, DiBenedetto has been the first-choice driver in the Truck Series until his contract expired after the race in Bristol.

His team didn’t waste any time in announcing a replacement for him for the last three races of the season. Starting from Talladega, Kaulig Racing driver Chandler Smith will replace the 32-year-old DiBenedetto. Chandler is a great option, having stacked two years of experience in the series since his debut in 2019.

At 20 years of age, taking up the mantle of a team is a good enough start for Chandler’s career. 5 wins, 23 top 5s and 34 top 10s in 61 starts in the Truck Series implies that his time has been rewarding. It could be a great move for team Rackley which could potentially turn out to be better than DiBenedetto’s numbers.

Read More: Kyle Busch Compares Joe Gibbs With Richard Childress in “Traveling Circus” Talks

DiBenedetto will be exploring his options in 2024

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This will be the second time Rackley WAR reaches the completion of a driver’s contract mid-season. Prior to DiBenedetto’s arrival in 2022, 2021 was a rocky year for the team. They had to juggle between their first-choice driver and talents like Josh Berry to keep their boat afloat for a while. While Matt provided some stability, it looks like his premature announcement of moving into free agency has not worked out so far.

Expressing his emotions through a tweet, he earlier posted,  “No words can express the disappointment I’m feeling right now and also not being able to finish the season out. I really want to thank my fans for always being there for me, it means the world to me and I’ll always be there for you.”

Matt offered more than just being a stable choice in the series. Having made his debut in 2010, he brought in tons of experience with him, expertise from the Xfinity Series stint, and a cheerful personality to the team. In 2022, he also won at Talladega, the race that will kick off Rackley’s era without him.

Speaking about his future, he said, “I’m looking forward to what the future holds; as of right now, I don’t have 2024 plans, but I am exploring all options in all series. Thank you to my dedicated and awesome fan base, as well as NASCAR and the whole industry, for being able to make a career out of what I love.”

Having said that, what comes next for him, in what series, and in what role remains unclear still. Many teams will be hoping to rope him in for his experiences ranging across all circuits of racing.

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