“I Am Not Retiring” – Joe Gibbs’ Former Driver Gives Update for 2024 After Getting Axed Mid-Season

One of the most surprising moves that came in NASCAR this season was the separation of Matt DiBenedetto and his Truck Series team, Rackley W.A.R. After spending two seasons with them, the driver announced in August that he would quit the team though he did not have any solid plans for the future. In response to his announcement, the team withdrew him as their driver for the final three races of the year.

With the season now behind us and DiBenedetto without a ride for 2024, several speculations surrounding his retirement have clouded the sky. But the 32-year-old has now put an end to them and confirmed that it is too quick for him to hang up his suit.

Former Joe Gibbs Racing star Matt DiBenedetto confirms his NASCAR stay

Behind the #25 truck of Rackley W.A.R., Matt DiBenedetto raced in 2022 and 2023. Though his performances were strong and results good, the outcome of his stint was a bit shocking. With the team’s decision to drop the driver midseason and his subsequent lack of updates on his career drawing verdicts of retirement, the driver has now denied all such words.

Through an Instagram post on Tuesday, he confirmed his intention to continue racing in NASCAR. He said, “A promise, I’m not leaving anybody in the dark. Full transparency. Just an update on everything that’s going on. Everything is good. Everything is good in our world. No, I am not retiring. You are getting rid of me that easy. Racing runs through my blood. Love NASCAR. Love driving in circles for a living. So, I’m not going anywhere.”

Matt DiBenedetto carries a significant history behind his latest role as a truck series driver. Between 2015 and 2021, he raced for different Cup Series teams in almost 250 races and even made the playoffs in the 2020 season. His stint with the juggernaut, Joe Gibbs Racing, came early in his career back in 2009 when he was cast as a driver for their #20 Xfinity Series Toyota. Though his appearances were sporadic under the banner of Joe Gibbs, the stop pivoted him towards a strong run in the Cup Series, and later the Truck Series.

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DiBenedetto explains the reasons for his silence after getting dropped

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Talking further on his post, Matt DiBenedetto also explained the lack of updates from his side. Mentioning that NASCAR was a business, he added, “I mean not in a bad way. In a good way. We are building partnerships, building sponsorships behind me working on all that and putting it together because I’m really looking at the next 5, 10 years of my career. I’m only 32.”

Citing lack of sponsorship as the main reason behind him not yet finalizing a destination for 2024, he continued, “It takes money to go racing, so we’re just trying to send up some sponsorship and figuring out the details for next year. There are a couple of opportunities on that route there, but just building a step at a time…The short answer is we are working on sponsors.”

Despite not competing in the final races of the 2023 season, DiBenedetto had made it into the playoffs by the time he was dropped. He ended his final run with Rackley W.A.R. with a final 10th spot in the driver standings. Hopefully, he will soon find his way back up the ladder to the Cup Series.

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