What’s Happening?

Matt DiBenedetto teased that he has signed some sort of a racing deal for 2024 just a couple of days after Christmas. The question is, where can DiBenedetto sign for 2024? His options are getting quite limited.

• Matt DiBenedetto has been the subject of much speculation since being released from Rackley W.A.R. three races early. He has spoken a couple of times since saying that he is searching for sponsorship. Now, he seems to have something decided for 2024.
• There are very few seats available for 2024 in any NASCAR series. Most seats are either taken up or reportedly have drivers who are favored for them. Not every seat is even a full-time seat.
• Fans are interested to see where DiBenedetto ends up. Many are excited to see where he could end up, but others are more pessimistic about his future.

Xfinity Series

Out of the teams left with open seats, only AM Racing and Sam Hunt Racing had a full-time driver in one of these seats. The rest, as is shown in the list below, were “All-Star Cars”.

AM Racing was the ride many fans immediately thought of when DiBenedetto made the move. AM Racing signed Hailie Deegan to pilot the 15 car, but they said they want to start a second race team. Could that happen in 2024?

However, AM Racing has backtracked on those plans according to Toby Christie. Aside from the ride not being available, it makes sense why DiBenedetto would be a tough fit.

Deegan is a young driver, and AM Racing likely wants a stable veteran to team up with Deegan. DiBenedetto’s career has been anything but stable with multiple ugly exits from race teams. Does that work for AM Racing?

Sam Hunt Racing is a Toyota team, and DiBenedetto has a history with Toyota. He drove for Toyota in the Cup Series for BK Racing and Leavine Family Racing. If he left those teams on good terms, maybe Sam Hunt Racing could open up a spot.

However, DiBenedetto has not been affiliated with Toyota for a while. If his relationship with Toyota is frosty, then, could this stop him from heading to SHR?

Aside from that, there are plenty of potential part-time seats for DiBenedetto, but, none of them are guaranteed race-winning equipment. He may be looking at a part-time seat with JD Motorsports, Emerling-Gase, SS Greenlight, MBM, CHK, or even DGM.

Cup Series

The Cup Series driver lineup is pretty well set for 2024. The only two chartered entries left are Kaulig Racing’s #16 car and Rick Ware Racing’s #15 car. Pockrass mentioned both cars as possibilities for DiBenedetto.

Kaulig Racing seems set on an All-Star car with A.J. Allmendinger competing in the Daytona 500 for the team, so, if Dibenedetto gets this ride, it will be part-time. Rick Ware Racing also used the #15 as an “All-Star Car” in 2023.

Essentially, there may be no full-time effort available for DiBenedetto in 2024 in the Cup Series. However, Kaulig Racing did win a race in 2023, so, he could be in race-winning equipment. RWR might have a full-time ride open up, but, that’s no guarantee.

Truck Series

The Truck Series is getting very barren in terms of open seats. Young’s Motorsports may have some openings, but, they are moving up to the Xfinity Series in 2024. They could scale back their Truck Series commitment, and, there is likely no full-time spot for DiBenedetto anyway.

Hattori Racing Enterprises is without Tyler Ankrum for 2024. If there is any chance DiBenedetto runs full-time in the Truck Series in 2024, this may be the only race team available. They are a Toyota team, similar to Sam Hunt Racing.

While Hattori did win a Championship in 2018 with Brett Moffitt, they have not won a race or made the Playoffs since 2021 with Austin Hill. How good is their equipment? DiBenedetto may struggle with this team.

Long story short, the availability is small for DiBenedetto. There are very few full-time seats, and those that are available are not top-level equipment. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.