A promising finish disappears for Matt and the No. 20 Pizza Ranch Toyota in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250, at Gateway International Raceway.  DiBenedetto started the night from the 18th position and steadily worked his way forward over the next 150 laps, reaching a high of 8th place.  In fact, Matt’s race was going so well that ESPN pit reporter Shannon Spake took to shortening Matt’s name to “Matty D.” because she had to call out the forward progress of the No. 20 Pizza Ranch Toyota and its driver so often.

After a relatively caution free first three quarters of the race, the action on the track started getting out of control.  Two laps after a restart on lap 148, Matt’s car got loose in the corner and tagged the outside wall creating heavy damage to the rear of the car.  Matt was able to hold the car together for a lap, but then the car shot down the track and collected JGR teammate Brad Coleman.  Both drivers and cars took big blows from the crash.  Matt and Brad were each treated and released from the infield care center.

The No. 20 Pizza Ranch Toyota would limp back out on the track with rookie driver, Ryan Truex replacing Matt in the driver seat.  Truex was making his Nationwide Series debut for Michael Waltrip Racing and got loose on lap 178 while also running in 10th place.  Truex’s No. 00 sustained heavy damage and would not return, freeing him up to help the No. 20 team try to salvage some owners points.

At the end of the race , Carl Edwards turned Brad Keselowski into the outside wall while going down the homestretch to take the checkered flag during a green-white checkered finish.  This was Edward’s second win of the 2010 season.

We are thankful that all of the drivers were ok.

Check out the video highlights of the wreck between Matt & Brad.

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