Matt DiBenedetto was just looking for an opening on the track during practice – that’s when he aroused the wrath of #14-Tony Stewart on Friday. On the track the three-time champion flipped off the rookie and yelled at him. Off the track when the driver of the #83 BK Racing Toyota tried to explain what happened, DiBenedetto’s attempt was futile. “I went up to him to apologize and explain the situation to him,” DiBenedetto told Motorsport.com. “I’m not an idiot. I wouldn’t just pull in front of him. I told him the 19 pulled out in front of me on the racetrack. That checked up all of my momentum and by that time – things happen so fast around here – that when I got to Turn 3, he was getting a few car lengths of me so I just pulled over to let him go. He didn’t understand. I tried to tell him what happened, but he just told me I just needed to get out of the way and whatever. He really just didn’t know what to say. He’s just an arrogant prick,” DiBenedetto said. “He has anger issues and needs to focus on driving the race car other than dedicating the whole practice session to blocking somebody when it wasn’t something I did intentionally. I don’t care who he is, he’s barking up the wrong tree.”(Motorsport)(3-28-2015)
UPDATE: Sprint Cup Series rookie Matt DiBenedetto says all is fine now between he and three-time champion Tony Stewart, but that wasn’t the case Friday after the two crossed paths on and off the racing surface at Martinsville Speedway. During Friday’s lone NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, a relatively innocent-looking run-in between DiBenedetto and Stewart led to some harsh words and further explanation afterward. Explaining the situation to Stewart afterward, DiBenedetto said the veteran listened to him, and DiBenedetto believes Stewart now understands the situation better. “He didn’t say a whole lot,” DiBenedetto said. “I explained what happened and he didn’t have much to say, since I explained the whole deal. It is what it is. It was kind of dumb, a little bit of an overreaction. It’s all over with now. In reality it’s such a small issue. I felt like it was something minor,” said DiBenedetto, adding that he was more frustrated for his team than taking it personally. “If I was in his situation I would have kind of blown it off, especially since I made an effort to get out of his way. It is what it is. I guess it’s understandable. We’ll just move on.”(FoxSports)(3-29-2015)
