August 21, 2016: Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (August 21, 2016) – Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the No. 83 Cosmo Motors Toyota Camry scored a top-20 finish in Sunday’s race, bringing home a 17th place finish for the BK Racing team. David Ragan, driver of the No. 23 Dr Pepper Toyota Camry, finished p21 in the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.
“I’m really proud of our No.83 Cosmo Motors team today, this is a huge step for us following what seems like an endless string of bad luck in recent weeks. Our guys at the shop and pit crew never gave up and they worked hard all weekend long. Thanks to my crew chief Gene Nead, team owner Ron Devine and especially my family for their continued support,” said DiBenedetto.
“It was a solid day for our team,” Ragan said. “We started the weekend off in a hole and Patrick (Donahue, crew chief) made some good adjustments. We had two runs where we got off on adjustments this afternoon, and that lost us a little ground. Other than that it was a great rebound for our team.”
DiBenedetto took the green flag on Saturday evening from the 18th position after advancing to the second round of knockout qualifying on Friday afternoon. With weather threatening all night, DiBenedetto and Ragan fought for position early in the race before rain halted the 500-Lap event, forcing NASCAR to push the remainder of the race to Sunday afternoon.
Restarting the race on Sunday afternoon, both DiBenedetto and Ragan were confident in their cars after the few laps of action Saturday night. As the competition caution came out at Lap 85, both drivers stated their cars were tight and adjustments were made to dial them in to the changing track conditions.
Strategy had put the BK Racing cars in p20 and p21 respectively to start the final 51 lap shootout to the checkered flag. As the checkered flag flew, DiBenedetto brought home a 17th place finish for the No.83 Cosmo Motors team, Ragan a 21st place finish for the Dr Pepper team.
Up next, the BK Racing teams head to Michigan International Speedway for the Pure Michigan 400 on Sunday, August 28th with the green flag expected at 2:18 p.m. ET.