August 15, 2019 | By Lee Spencer

NASCAR Notebook: Earnhardt Jr. and family survive plane accident

BRISTOL, Tenn.—Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family are safe following a plane crash in Elizabethton, Tennessee, Thursday afternoon. 

Earnhardt was en route to Bristol Motor Speedway when his Cessna Citation skidded off of the runway at Elizabethton Municipal Airport and burst into flames around 3:40 p.m. Earnhardt, his wife Amy and one-year-old daughter Isla were transported to a nearby hospital and have since been released.

Earnhardt’s sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, tweeted, “I can confirm Dale, Amy & Isla along with his two pilots were involved in a crash in Bristol TN this afternoon. Everyone is safe and has been taken to the hospital for further evaluation. We have no further information at this time. Thank you for your understanding.”

Earnhardt, the son of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt, raced in the Cup Series for 18 seasons and collected 26 wins and 15 poles before retiring after 2017. He joined NBC Sports the following season. 

Shortly after 8 p.m.. NBC Sports released a statement confirming Earnhardt would take some time off. 

“We’re incredibly grateful that Dale, his wife Amy, daughter Isla and the two pilots are safe following today’s accident. After being discharged from the hospital, we communicated with Dale and his team, and we’re all in agreement that he should take this weekend off to be with his family. We look forward to having him back in the booth next month at Darlington.”

The FAA is investigating the accident.

DiBenedetto and LFR to part ways

Despite a valiant effort to retain the seat of the No. 95 Toyota, Leavine Family Racing notified Matt DiBenedetto his services would not be needed beyond this season. 

The 28-year-old Grass Valley, Californian was recruited by LFR to fill the seat vacated by Kasey Kahne last September. 

In 23 starts with the team, DiBenedetto has posted two top fives and four top 10s with his best result coming at Sonoma Raceway in June.

“I got the devastating news that I will not be able to return to Leavine Family Racing,” DiBenedetto tweeted on Thursday. “Nonetheless, I can’t express how thankful I am for Bob (Levine), Sharon (Levine), Matt Diliberto, and everyone at LFR and Toyota for allowing me to do exactly what I said I was going to do, which was showcase my talent. It’s been exciting for us as a team to get top fives, top 10s and lead the most laps in the Daytona 500.

“I have every intention of driving my heart out the rest of the season to not only get more of these kinds of finishes but to get them their first win. I would love to do that for them.” 

DiBenedetto started his NASCAR career as a test driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. Certainly, his best opportunity since advancing to Cup in 2015 has been with LFR.

Leavine released the following statement:

“We have chosen to move in another direction for 2020. Matt has been an important part of our team this year, putting together strong runs. He’s a talented young driver and we look forward to closing out this season with him behind the wheel of the No. 95 Camry. We wish him nothing but the best in the future.” 

The team has yet to name a replacement. However, Christopher Bell is rumored to be headed to the No. 95 for 2020. When asked about his plans for next year—and specifically about the No. 95 ride—Bell offered no update.

“There’s a number of different cars that I could drive next year,” Bell said. “Obviously, I could still run the Xfinity Series. I could go to the Cup Series. It’s not in my hands right now, so I just have to go out there and continue to try to win races."