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Matt DiBenedetto was announced the winner of the Chevy Silverado 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. (HHP/Harold Hinson photo)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

DiBenedetto Leaves Talladega With First Career Win

October 1, 2022

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Matt DiBenedetto was declared the winner of the Chevy Silverado 250 at Talladega Superspeedway, after NASCAR Camping World Truck Series fans witnessed nine caution flags and a dramatic photo finish.

DiBenedetto’s first career victory came in his 21st Truck Series race, while wheeling the No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet owned by Curtis Sutton.

“Oh man, it’s such a long time coming,” DiBenedetto said in his post-race interview on FOX. “I’m so thankful to do this … this is amazing, this team deserves it.” 

Playoff contender and pole-sitter John Hunter Nemechek led from the green flag at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. Ford driver Zane Smith quickly overtook Chandler Smith for second, while the remaining field filed in behind them.

The first caution came on lap 18, when Jordan Anderson’s No. 3 truck caught fire exiting turn two. Anderson made his escape as smoke billowed out of the vehicle, suffering several serious burns in the process.

He was later airlifted from the track to seek proper medical attention at a hospital in Birmingham.

Anderson would later announce on social media he had been diagnosed with second-degree burns on his neck, face, right arm, hands and both knees.

Nemechek continued to hold down first on the restart, but Chandler swept past him on lap 24 in his No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports entry and secured the lead for the next 13 laps. On lap 32, Bryan Dauzat, Carson Hocevar and Lawless Alan brought out another caution as the trio tangled in turn three.

The battle was back on at the front of the pack following the restart, as ThorSport Racing’s Ben Rhodes got by Chandler on Lap 38, moving Nemechek down to third. As Stage 1 came to a close, Zane, Chandler and Nemechek made a trip to the pits, relegating them towards the back of the field on the restart.

Chase Purdy and Bret Holmes were 1-2 as the green flag waved on lap 45.

Holmes quickly shot into the lead and kept a tight grip on the wheel as Purdy, and then playoff driver Christian Eckes, challenged him from behind. Eckes slipped into the lead on lap 55.

Hocevar was slowly making a comeback from his Stage 1 crash, climbing through the ranks, and eventually overtook Eckes as the race reached 37 laps to go. The pair continued to battle and swapped positions several times, with the Chevy Silverado 250 remaining caution free until lap 63 when a loose tire was spotted on the track.   

The two race leaders made a pit stop during the caution, leaving the No. 19 of Derek Kraus to guide the way in their absence. Eckes and Hocevar rejoined the field in fifth and sixth, and by the next caution on lap 67, the Toyota and Chevrolet drivers were once again 1-2.

The green flag was out with 27 laps to go, advantage to Hocevar.

A sixth caution arose on lap 72 as the No. 91 Chevrolet of Colby Howard spun in turn four.

Hocevar exchanged the lead with Eckes as the field returned to green, while Rhodes and Ryan Preece crept into third and fourth. At that point, Hocevar was the only non-playoff driver in the top five.

Caution struck again when several Trucks were collected in a turn-three wreck on lap 78, including Johnny Sauter, Tanner Gray, Austin Wayne, Kayden Honeycutt and playoff driver Grant Enfinger.

Honeycutt was the only one able to avoid major damage.

Two hours in, there was 10 laps to go.

Eckes snagged the lead on lap 85, using Hocevar as a buffer between the other playoff drivers in the chase. However, with six laps to go, Hocevar lost traction on the straight, bringing an unfortunate end to his strong performance.

On the final lap, Eckes and Rhodes were next-and-neck for the lead when another multi-car crash played out behind them. The wreck jostled the lead positions around, pushing DiBenedetto forward in the No. 25 Chevrolet and giving Holmes an opportunity to surge toward the front as well.

Following the checkered, DiBenedetto was announced as the race winner.

Rhodes became the only playoff driver to finish in the top three, while Holmes took home third.

“It’s a shame to be that close to punching your ticket and not get it,” Rhodes said. “Honestly, I think everything worked out fine until the last few hundred feet. If I could change it, I would have just stayed right on the bottom. I’m not saying we could have got the win … but we wouldn’t have a torn up race truck right now.”

Preece and Eckes completed the top five.

Chandler Jones leads the standings by 12 points over Zane Smith.