"Matt Dibenedetto is nothing without Rackley" -Keyboard warriors It is actually quite the opposite, tbh. Rackley was nothing without him and once he came along, they suddenly started getting results. Him building up that small team is a real accomplishment
Not to mention prior to 2022 Daytona Matt Dibenedetto had never been in a Craftsman truck and has already done more than truck series veteran Timothy Peters did before him and the team parted ways mid season in 2021.
Rackley before him was just bad, Josh Berry had like 1 good run with them before getting taken out due to mechanical woes and that was pretty much it. Matt has actually managed to elevate that team to a regular top 10 contender even if they aren't winning week in and week out. It's a big accomplishment for a team only in its third year, and it only helps to build them for the future
The championship is Heim's to lose like John Hunter in 2021. His average finish at the playoffs is a different league to everyone else. As weird as it sounds I think either Hocevar or one of the Thorsport boys are gonna be sitting out at Phoenix with Zane smith being the difference from your top 4. The Thorsport trucks all run very similarly but only one can win at a time. And Zane down the stretch is just so consistent. But I could see enfinger make himself known in that camp too. There is absolutely 6 or 7 trucks that are potent enough to make their case. I do agree 100% with Ben, He's been a rock at that place for several years now, keeping right there with cup guys and people about to be cup guys. I would love to see him take that next step but wow anything car shaped has come with the same aura of adversity.
Thorsport overall has really not been that great this season, so Im not sure 2 of their trucks in the Final 4 is very likely. As for Crafton I’d love it if Thorsport could just give him something, it feels like he rides out there with the 4th or even 5th best truck sometimes. Imagine of they gave him what Deegan has, he’d easily have 2 wins and be a Final 4 contender.
I'm putting Enfinger and Crafton out in the Round of 10, both drivers have been a bit off and Enfinger's luck in the playoffs is borderline nightmarish. Round 8 will see Matty D, Rhodes, Eckes, and Sanchez bow out due to Heim, Smith, Majeski, and Hocevar having either more consistency or flashes in the pan (Carson). Our champion will be Heim, narrowly outdueling Majeski at the end of the race
