LOUDON, N.H. (June 26, 2009) – Two of the top rising young talents in NASCAR waged a short-track battle at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with Matt DiBenedetto emerging from a last-lap scrap with Ryan Truex to win the Heluva Good! Summer 125 Friday evening.
It was the second win in four NASCAR Camping World Series East starts for the 17-year-old DiBenedetto, a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. He denied Truex, a 17-year-old development driver for Michael Waltrip Racing, a second straight victory. He also prevented Truex from joining his father, Martin Truex Sr., and brother, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr., as winners at the track that is a staple in the NASCAR Camping World Series East schedule.
DiBenedetto led twice for 39 laps. He lost the lead to Truex on the Lap 119 restart but was able to maintain second. Coming to the white flag, DiBenedetto turned up the pressure on Truex's back bumper. The leaders made contact several times down the back stretch. After more contact in Turn 3, DiBenedetto got a run underneath. The two banged side by side coming out of Turn 4, with DiBenedetto pulling ahead down the front stretch to earn the win by .169 seconds.
Kevin Swindell finished third, followed by Ryan Gifford and Jody Lavender. Eddie MacDonald, who swept the New Hampshire races in 2007, also led 39 laps but pit strategy forced him to fight back through the field and he finished sixth.
Alan Tardiff, Jesus Hernandez, Patrick Long and Steve Park rounded out the top 10.
Lavender took back the points lead when Brett Moffitt, the leader entering the race, scrapped the wall while running third on Lap 38. The damage forced Moffitt to retire from the race and he finished 27th. Lavender has 901 points, while MacDonald is second with 883 and Truex third with 872. Moffitt dropped to fourth.
The NASCAR Camping World Series East will next race at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway on July 11.
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NASCAR Camping World Series East-Heluva Good! Summer 125 Results
Friday
At New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, N.H.
Lap length: 1.058 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (5) Matt DiBenedetto, Grass Valley, Calif., Toyota, 125 laps, 87.182 mph, $13,900.
2. (1) Ryan Truex, Mayetta, N.J., Toyota, 125, $11,725.
3. (3) Kevin Swindell, Germantown, Tenn., Chevrolet, 125, $7,900.
4. (12) Ryan Gifford, Winchester, Tenn., Chevrolet, 125, $8,400.
5. (9) Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C., Chevrolet, 125, $7,050.
6. (2) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 125, $6,000.
7. (8) Alan Tardiff, Lyman, Maine, Chevrolet, 125, $5,750.
8. (15) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Dodge, 125, $5,100.
9. (13) Patrick Long, Oak Park, Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $4,650.
10. (6) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Chevrolet, 125, $4,350.
11. (7) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 125, $4,200.
12. (16) Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, Ind., Chevrolet, 125, $3,600.
13. (21) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill, N.H., Chevrolet, 125, $3,500.
14. (10) Jeff Anton, Russell, Mass., Chevrolet, 125, $3,400.
15. (19) Alex Kennedy, Aztec, N.M., Chevrolet, 125, $3,800.
16. (24) Mike Johnson, Salisbury, Mass., Ford, 125, $3,200.
17. (11) Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y., Chevrolet, 125, $3,600.
18. (14) Brad Leighton, Center Harbor, N.H., Chevrolet, 125, $3,000.
19. (25) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 125, $2,900.
20. (23) Ryan Duff, Hazard, KY., Chevrolet, 125, $3,350.
21. (20) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Chevrolet, 124, $3,325.
22. (18) Jarit Johnson, El Cajon, Calif., Chevrolet, 123, $2,800.
23. (22) Jason Patison, Corona, Calif., Chevrolet, 120, $3,295.
24. (17) D.J. Shaw, Conway, N.H., Ford, 117, $2,780.
25. (27) Tiffany Daniels, Smithfield, Va., Dodge, 101, accident, $2,765.
26. (26) Chase Mattioli, Long Pond, PA., Dodge, 77, accident, $2,750.
27. (4) Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa, Chevrolet, 39, accident, $3,235.
28. (29) Eric Chase, Burlington, Vt., Chevrolet, 10, suspension, $2,720.
29. (28) Scott Bouley, Middlebury, Conn., Chevrolet, 0, engine, $2,705.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 31 minutes 1 second
Margin of Victory: .169 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: R.Truex * (125.113 mph, 30.443 seconds)
Caution Flags: 6 for 24 laps.
Lead Changes: 8 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: E. MacDonald 1-33; R. Truex 34-64; E. MacDonald 65-68; K. Swindell 69-72; E. MacDonald 73-74; K. Swindell 75-80; M. DiBenedetto 81-118; R. Truex 119-124; M. DiBenedetto 125.
Standings: 1. J. Lavender, 901; 2. E. MacDonald, 883; 3. R. Truex, 872; 4. B. Moffitt, 846; 5. S. Park, 784; 6. D. Delaney, 772; 7. A. Kennedy, 746; 8. M. Kobyluck, 727; 9. A. Tardiff, 704; 10. R. Duff, 699.