DiBenedetto had a solid 6th place qualifying effort at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA two weeks ago against the toughest competition anywhere in Late Model Stock Car racing, but miscommunication with his crew while trying to feel out the new ride in the Mitch West Racing Ford Fusion possibly brought on by the pressure of the competition at MMS, kept him from getting a solid finish. DiBenedetto ran strong inside the top ten, but as the race wore on his car's handling failed him and in the end he found himself off the lead lap and he finished in 17th place.

DiBenedetto and his team later found out that they also had engine problems and the engine problems is what's going to keep them from racing at Motor Mile Speedway on Saturday night. DiBenedetto after popping two engines this week trying to test. the team went and got a GM Performance Crate Engine to see if that helped to solve the engine troubles. Crate engines are not the engine of choice for Motor Mile, but have a strong chance against the built engines at other tracks.

To the delight of every General Motors/Chevrolet fan, DiBenedetto showed up at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, NC tonight and after qualifying fifth he dominated the 50-lap race scoring the victory in only his second race behind the wheel of Mitch West Racing's Ford Fusion. Seeing a Ford win with a Chevrolet engine is a little strange and I'm sure DiBenedetto's engine builder is kicking himself at this point.

DiBenedetto at times held a ten car length or better lead over the field and cruised to a much needed win for a team that poured their heart and soul into the car this week to make sure they made it on the track. Working on the car until two in the morning some nights this week and finally get the car prepared with the new GM crate engine, the Mitch West Racing team deserves a standing ovation for the work they put in the car this week and then helping to get their young superstar to victory lane.

Dibenedetto purchased a crate engine from the Leicht race team, who ironically finished second to him tonight with Kevin Leicht behind the wheel of that car.  For DiBenedetto it was only his third race at Tri-County Motor Speedway, his first two races came on the UARA-STARS tour last season where he finished fourth and seventh.  This time for DiBendetto, he showed up late, just in time to bolt on new tires and hit the track for qualifying, turning in the fifth fastest time and then starting on the outside pole after the top six was inverted.

For Mitch West Racing it was the first time one of their cars was powered by a General Motors product since 2004, when NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, Danny O'Quinn piloted their cars to the first ever, UARA-STARS Late Model Stock Car touring series championship.

DiBenedetto and his team are busy celebrating their first win together right about the time I'm writing this and his win certainly healed a lot of wounds the team had been carrying this week, but this is one chapter, the next chapter will be written tomorrow when the team loads up their GM Crate powered Ford Fusion and heads down to Hickory Motor Speedway for the 100-lap race and if tonight was any indication, Guido is back on his game, so the Hickory regulars had better look out tomorrow.