NASCAR THIS WEEK 8 - THE DERRICK. / The News-Herald Wednesday, Febuary 5, 2020

QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE

Compelling questions ... and maybe a few actual answers

Kyle Busch’s No. 18 piled up stage points last year, and it paid off. [AP FILE]

Slow news week?

I’ll say. The “big news” involved the lengths of stages in Cup Series races this year. The final stage has been reduced in nearly all races, a move that will require a bit of strategy on fuel and maybe tires in the later portions of an event. What will that mean to us as viewers? Nothing much.

Speaking of stages …

“Stage racin’ ” has been with us for three seasons now, and that’s plenty of time to determine an opinion Matt DiBenedetto, shown here taking a selfie on Daytona’s pit road, has been using social media his entire NASCAR Cup Series career to help build of its usefulness in his fan base. [NEWS-JOURNAL/JIM TILLER] adding excitement to the product. Some folks were clamor- ing for NASCAR to try DiBenedetto turns social media heat races, such as you’d see on a Friday night at the local short wave into Wood Brothers ride track, and stages are a form of heats without By Godwin Kelly in 2020, DiBenedetto’s fans “It’s been really cool to alliance with powerhouse the checkered flags. [email protected] clamored to keep the Cali- get that much support , is a proving- They’ve added a bit of fornia native in the car. That from people. It’s been ground ride. The team has two additional action and a att DiBenedetto didn’t happen. overwhelming for me and Cup Series wins since 2011. lot of long-term strat- is one of the And finally, when the 2020 my family. People embrace Both of those drivers advanced egy as drivers bankroll few people who seat opened at Wood Brothers the story and they have to bigger teams. stage points for the have squeezed Racing following the retire- followed along on this “I’m here to do what I set (take a bow, sunshineM and rainbows out of ment of , social journey.” out to do my entire life, which ). Now, if we social media, which at times media demanded DiBenedetto is win in the Cup Series,” could just shorten the resembles a vicious cyber get that ride. Matt DiBenedetto DiBenedetto said. “This is my yellow-flag dead time cyclone. did year and opportunity to do between those stages, DiBenedetto, who currently just that in early September. that.” we’d be happier. has 105,000 followers on They will hand the keys of the He might not be in this Twitter, has used social media No. 21 Ford to DiBenedetto story and they have followed situation today had it not Ken Willis, to build his fan base since starting with the Daytona along on this journey. been for his rabid social media ken.willis@ getting his first NASCAR Cup 500 on Feb. 16. The Woods “I think they feel a pas- supporters. news-jrnl.com Series ride in 2015. credit Menard for securing sion for what I do in racing “This has been a fan-driven When DiBenedetto declared DiBenedetto. and that I just live this stuff. (phenomenon) getting me to his free agency midway “First thing out of Paul’s I have worked and sacrificed where I am today,” DiBene- W H A T ’ S O N T A P through the 2018 , his mouth was ‘Get Matt,’ ” team everything just to have a shot detto said. “I’m a big part of All times Eastern fan base pushed for his hir- owner Eddie Wood said. “So at making it here. I guess this the social media and my fol- ing at , right away, we started a con- is like a Cinderella story and lowers and the support I’ve CUP SERIES: Busch which lost to versation with Matt and that’s it’s not finished yet, that’s for had in the tough times and Clash/ health problems. He got the the only direction we went. sure.” people behind me and qualifying ride. And I’d like to thank Paul for DiBenedetto has advanced pushing. SITE: Daytona Inter- DiBenedetto showed his putting us in that direction.” through the ranks in a man- “We live in a world where national Speedway talent in that car by leading 49 It’s another step forward ner drivers advanced in the social media can be mostly (2.5-mile tri-oval) laps of the 2019 Daytona 500 for the likeable 28-year-old old days. If a driver could take negative, it’s amazing the SCHEDULE: Saturday, then scoring three top-5 and driver, who openly expresses a back-marker car up to mid- feedback I get. You can hardly practice ( seven top-10 finishes. He had emotion. pack, they would get a mid- find a negative comment. 1, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. a stirring second-place run in “It’s been really cool to get pack ride. If they outperformed It’s neat to see everyone in and 3 p.m.). Sunday, Bristol’s summer night race. that much support from peo- at that level, they would get a so much positivity in a world Daytona 500 qualify- When the rumor mill ple,” DiBenedetto said. “It’s chance with an elite race team. where that’s not so com- ing (Fox, noon), Busch had Christopher Bell driv- been overwhelming for me and Wood Brothers Racing, mon. To see that really is Clash (, ing Leavine’s No. 95 Toyota my family. People embrace the which has a strong technical heartwarming.” 3 p.m.)

2 0 2 0 C U P S E R I E S April 5: Bristol June 21: Chicagoland Sept. 6: Darlington SCHEDULE April 19: Richmond June 27: Pocono Sept. 12: Richmond Feb. 9: Clash at Daytona April 26: Talladega June 28: Pocono Sept. 19: Bristol Feb. 16: Daytona 500 May 3: Dover July 5: Sept. 27: Feb. 23: Las Vegas May 9: Martinsville July 11: Oct. 4: Talladega March 1: Fontana May 16: All-Star Race at Charlotte July 19: Oct. 11: Charlotte March 8: Phoenix May 24: Charlotte Aug. 9: Michigan Oct. 18: Kansas March 15: May 31: Kansas Aug. 16: Watkins Glen Oct. 25: March 22: Homestead- June 7: Michigan Aug. 23: Dover Nov. 1: Martinsville March 29: Texas June 14: Sonoma Aug. 29: Daytona Nov. 8: Phoenix

M O T O R M O U T H S SPEED FREAKS PODCAST A few questions we had to ask ourselves

We’re still scuffing the Pod’s Does Junior Earnhardt make the nominated last year? tires, but we’ll be at full song Hall of Fame class of 2021? What are you looking for in very soon. GODSPEAK: Congratulations the first weekend of Daytona on making the 2021 NASCAR ? Tune in online at Hall of Fame class, Dale Jr.! GODSPEAK: Which team will www.news-journalonline.com/ Ain’t nobody not voting for this make a Daytona 500 pole run? daytonamotormouths cat. Winning the pole helps with PR KEN’S CALL: Unless you start and marketing because a driver packing the Hall with mechan- has it for a week. ics and non-Cup racers (Ray KEN’S CALL: Like everyone, I Fox, , etc.), want to see how Hailie Deegan Junior’s credentials are as good does in the ARCA race. And as, say, 2020 inductee Buddy Kenny Schrader is coming as Baker, among others. And why owner of an ARCA entry, and Jr. will be eligible for nomination for the 2021 wasn’t at least it’s always good to see him. NASCAR Hall of Fame class. [AP FILE]