Ex-NASCAR Cup driver fails to qualify for O’Reilly – Sports News
Matt DiBenedetto’s long-awaited return to the monitor became a brutal reminder of how skinny the margins are in at present’s NASCAR, regardless of division.
The former NASCAR Cup Series driver failed to qualify for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Darlington Raceway by simply 0.05 seconds.
The mistake, as minor because it appears, was enough to wipe out what was supposed to be his first begin of the 2026 season and a potential turning level in a motorsports profession nonetheless searching for stability. DiBenedetto recorded a 31.063-second lap within the No. 35 for Joey Gase Motorsports, ending simply behind Josh Bilicki, who made the final switch with a 31.008. Meanwhile, one other NASCAR star aimed a personal shot directed towards a rival after wrecking him.
The distinction is slight on paper, nevertheless it mattered drastically in a qualifying session with solely 38 spots obtainable. With DiBenedetto sitting lowest in proprietor factors among the many bubble group, there was no security internet, leading to an quick and remaining DNQ.
The second felt heavier because the race was a reset. DiBenedetto hadn’t began in 2026 after leaving Viking Motorsports final season, and Darlington, which is one of his favourite tracks, was seen as a comeback alternative.
He even leaned into the second with a throwback paint scheme honoring Michael Annett, framing the weekend as each a tribute and a reintroduction. Instead, it ended earlier than there was even a probability of seeing the inexperienced flag.
Kyle Larson led the session with a 29.994, intently adopted by Christopher Bell at 30.041, whereas the mid-pack stayed tightly grouped within the low 30-second vary. DiBenedetto was not far off the tempo total, however in NASCAR, “not far” is the distinction between racing and watching.
His lap positioned him thirty ninth in a 38-car area, formally on the surface trying in. Nathan Byrd, driving the No. 42 for Young’s Motorsports, didn’t qualify after a DNS, eradicating any probability of making the sphere outright. DiBenedetto, alternatively, ran the lap, posted a aggressive time, and nonetheless fell short.
DiBenedetto’s profession has modified a lot since his peak Cup Series years with Wood Brothers Racing, when he made the playoffs in 2020 and have become a fan-favorite underdog. Since then, his path has been unstable, shifting by way of the Truck Series and Xfinity ranks, with rides coming and going and fewer alternatives with every reset.
Darlington’s weekend kicked off with a drivers-only commentary sales space that includes Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Austin Cindric during the Truck Series race on Friday night time. Corey Heim outperformed Ross Chastain with a remaining lap cross to secure the victory.
“I’m out of breath, for sure,” mentioned Heim after the race. “Man, we had a set of scuffs laying, and they were five laps fresher than everyone else’s. It was worth a shot. I didn’t think we could win from where we were at.”
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