Underdog fights for his career

DiBenedetto still thinks he can win

Always a popular driver, Matt DiBenedetto won a fan vote this season that earned him the final spot in NASCAR’s AllStar Race. As for the rest of his racing career? Well, winshaven’t come at all.

DiBenedetto became a fan favorite over his seven-year career as the underdog of underfunded teams — he qualified for his first Daytona 500 in 2016 in an open car — who just needed top-tier equipment to prove that he could compete with the stars of the sport and even win a race or two. When he got that shot last year with Wood Brothers Racing, steady success never came, and DiBenedetto is now without a ride for nextseason.

DiBenedetto has no idea what’s next. He could not hide the crushing hurt in a nine-minute video he posted on social media where he vented his frustration at losing yet another ride.

“I’m here to win in the Cup Series,” he said. “I am going to.”

Time could be running short.

At the track where the winner gets a lobster, DiBenedetto has an outside chance to claw his way into the playoff picture beginning Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“In our eyes, we’re not done,” team co-owner EddieWood said.

Bell a winner again

Christopher Bell turned a spot start in the Xfinity Series into a trip to victory lane, winning in a romp at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Bell made his first start since 2019 in NASCAR’s second-tier series when he was needed as a late replacement driver. He won every stage in the No. 54 Toyota and captured his 17th career Xfinity race. He won seven races in 2018, nine in 2019 and was promoted to the CupSeries last season.

Unhappy homecoming

Max Verstappen outdragged Lewis Hamilton at the start of Formula One’s experimental first sprint qualifying race to takethe pole for the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, England, and spoil the homecoming of the seventimechampion.

The Dutchman stretched his lead over Hamilton by winning the sprint, and takes a 33-point advantage over the local driverinto Sunday’s race.