Former Joe Gibbs Racing Driver Makes a Stunning Comeback With His Career Best Finish

The Xfinity race at Iowa Speedway was nothing short of dramatic, with the newly resurfaced track providing a tough test for tires and drivers alike. As the 0.875-mile oval saw its first new asphalt since 2019, tire management became a crucial factor, leading to numerous upsets. The race concluded with Sam Mayer seizing the checkered flag, marking his second victory of the season.

However, the new surface caused significant challenges, with notable drivers like Austin Dillon and veteran Justin Allgaier facing tire issues that affected their performance. Amidst the chaos, Matt DiBenedetto still managed his career-best Xfinity finish, a testament to his resilience and skill. His post-race interview offered a glimpse into the strategies and teamwork that led to this remarkable performance.

Slow and steady wins the race

The Xfinity race at Iowa Speedway was a rollercoaster of emotions for many drivers. Sam Mayer emerged victorious, overtaking Riley Herbst late in the race and pulling away in overtime to claim his second win of the season. Corey Heim secured a career-best third place. Yet, Matt DiBenedetto’s performance made a louder noise. Expressing satisfaction, he shared, “Oh man, it’s great. It’s our second top 10 already with Viking Motorsports. Proud of the team”.

And DiBenedetto’s run stood out, not just for the finish but also for his detailed breakdown of the race in his interview with Frontstretch reporters. His Mustang, equipped with Roush 8th engines, demonstrated impressive speed and reliability, crucial for achieving top finishes. The strategy employed by DiBenedetto and his crew chief, Kevin Johnson, played a significant role in overcoming the challenges posed by the new track surface and tire issues.

The former JGR driver elaborated on his team’s approach to managing tire wear and maintaining long-run performance. The new asphalt, while providing plenty of grip, posed a new challenge, leading to multiple right-front tire blowouts. Hence, the team’s strategic decision to keep the car free at the start of the race paid off, allowing them to conserve the right front tire and gain positions as the race progressed. DiBenedetto explained, “So, we had to play that game, you know, and balance how much to sacrifice early to make sure we were real nice to that right front tire, and keeping it free because it would pay dividends. And after you ran about 20, 30 laps, it would pay dividends. Then at the end, we knew my team would do a good job of just tightening it back up so that I could just bonsai the last three starts to make up all those spots and get all the way up to seven..“.

On the other hand, drivers like AJ Allmendinger and Justin Allgaier suffered significant setbacks due to tire failures, resulting in disappointing finishes. The tire woes that plagued the Xfinity race were also evident during the Cup Series practice sessions. Drivers like Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, and Tyler Reddick faced similar issues, highlighting the challenge of managing tire wear on the newly surfaced track.

Battle with tire woes

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The tire issues were a significant talking point throughout the Xfinity race. AJ Allmendinger, who finished 37th after his right front tire blew out, expressed his frustration, “It just blew out. I was a little bit tight, and actually, when I ran the bottom, I was tighter. So I thought down there, I was hurting the tire more. But I didn’t expect to have a right-front issue.” His sentiment was echoed by Justin Allgaier, who also suffered a blown tire that sent him into the wall, ending his race prematurely.

Other drivers faced similar challenges. Jeb Burton and Jesse Love both crashed after right front tire blowouts, and Austin Hill’s race was cut short due to an issue with his left front tire. The new asphalt seemed to generate excessive heat in the tires, leading to these failures. “The lap before, something felt weird in the left front, and I keyed up the radio and said I might have a tire issue,” Hill recounted.

With many veterans walking out early and with small teams showing stellar performances, do you think the fault is really with the tires?!