The dream of signing with a top NASCAR team is chased each and every weekend, by relentless young drivers chomping at the bit to make a career out of the sport they love. 

For 17-year-old Matt DiBenedetto, the dream became reality earlier this year when he joined Joe Gibbs Racing as a member of their driver development program.   

Originally from Grass Valley, California, where he raced 125cc Outlaw Karts on dirt, DiBenedetto and his family moved east after 2003 to pursue his racing career on the asphalt tracks of North Carolina. 

As his first NASCAR Camping World East Series race on April 11th draws closer, DiBenedetto looks forward to his next move up through the ranks. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited about a race,” DiBenedetto said in a recent interview with HardcoreRaceFans.com.  “I think we can really run well and get my feet wet with this series.”

During a test with Joe Gibbs Racing last year, DiBenedetto was able to learn the nuances of the East Series car rather quickly, but he acknowledged that it will require an adjustment of driving style after his experience in the lighter Late Model cars. 

“You can tell they're just heavier and they drive more like a tank,” said DiBenedetto.  “They have all the horsepower to get down the straightaways, but they're slower through the corners, so you have to back yourself off a little bit.” 

Now a member of a team stacked with young talent, DiBenedetto said he feels no pressure from above, and will concentrate on taking care of the equipment and racing smoothly.  

“I really don't think about it, pressure usually doesn't get to me much,” explained DiBenedetto.  “I'm just more of a laid-back person.  I’ll take it at my own pace and everything will work out the way it's supposed to.” 

Over the course of his career, the young racer has amassed a resume of no less than seven championships (two in North Carolina), more than 150 feature event/trophy dash wins, and over 100 poles.   

Even with that level of success, DiBenedetto admits that there was a time after the 2007 UARA Stars Late Model Touring Series season when he was sure his racing career was coming to an end.            

“We just couldn’t do it any more,” he recalled.  “We sold all of our stuff: truck, trailer, cars, and every single piece of racing equipment we had, because it just got so expensive.”   

Despite winning ‘Rookie of the Year” in his first Late Model Touring season, landing two feature victories, and finishing 4th in points, DiBenedetto and his family could no longer support the effort without more help from sponsors. 

After what he calls the saddest day he’d yet experienced in his life, things were quiet for about a month, until the phone started ringing. 

“I thought I was done, but then we got calls from people wanting me to drive for them,” DiBenedetto said.  “After that, everything just completely came together, and I couldn’t have pictured it turning out any better. It’s like living a dream.”

With fresh support from Mitch West Racing behind him, DiBenedetto racked up yet another impressive showing for 2008, taking home three feature wins, including one at Bristol that officially made him the youngest driver ever to win an event on the famed high-bank half-mile.   

“At most tracks it feels like your body is thrown up against the right side of your seat, but at Bristol you're kind of getting pushed down,” DiBenedetto explained.  “It feels like 10,000 pounds pushing down on your head when you're going through the corners.”

When asked if there was a particular track on this year’s schedule that he is excited about, DiBenedetto had no trouble producing an immediate answer. 

“I’m looking forward to Dover for sure,” said DiBenedetto.  “Everyone says it’s pretty much like Bristol on steroids, so that’ll be a blast.” 

Since his signing in February, DiBenedetto has spent time becoming acquainted with the new team, and preparing himself for the next level of competition. 

“I’m down there (at Joe Gibbs Racing) every day.  I go down to the Cup shop to work out with Brad Coleman, and I go to the Nationwide shop to help out,” explained DiBenedetto.  “I’ve gotten to know them really well.  They’re all really nice guys and I like working with them.”

Despite the frenzy of activity surrounding his newest venture, DiBenedetto has continued to be grateful for those who have helped and supported him along the way. 

“I’d have to say my parents are definitely the ones who got me here, and they’ve sacrificed a lot to do this,” said DiBenedetto.  “Also, I can’t even express how thankful I am to J.D. Gibbs, Joe Gibbs, and all those guys for what they’ve done for me.  They’ve given me one heck of an opportunity and I’m really lucky to have this deal.” 

Matt DiBenedetto’s first Camping World East Series race, the Greenville Pickens 150, is scheduled for April 11th in Greenville, SC, and will be broadcast nationally.  For more information on his career, be sure to visit www.mattdracing.com.