NASCAR: DiBenedetto, Ragan out at BK Racing

Less than a day after Matt DiBenedetto tweeted he would not be returning to BK Racing in 2017, the organization announced it is not renewing David Ragan's contract.

The two-car operation owned by Ron Devine will instead reorganize its premier series lineup. The 2016 season was Ragan's first with BK Racing. He drove the No. 23 Toyota and finished 33rd in points with two top-20 finishes.

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DiBenedetto, who made starts in both the No. 83 and No. 93, spent the last two season with BK Racing. In 68 career starts, DiBenedetto has one top-10 finish, a sixth-place effort at Bristol Motor Speedway last April.

"BK Racing has agreed not to renew David Ragan's contract for next year," Devine said in a statement. "Everyone wishes David the best of luck in his career. BK Racing will continue to restructure as an ongoing effort to improve our on-track performance in the NASCAR Monster Energy Premier Series, and we will be announcing our 2017 driver lineup in the near future."

The news comes after DiBenedetto announced his departure on Twitter Thursday night as a decision to "go in a different direction."

"I can only say so much at this time," DiBenedetto said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "I've been in talks with BK, and no hard feelings. I'm appreciative of everything they've given me ... Just kind of evaluating the team situation for next year. From my end there's a little too much unknown, so I just had to make that decision. I'm excited about what the future has to hold here still, and obviously everyone will have to stay tuned."

DiBenedetto is hopeful to have an announcement on his future soon.

"Our 33rd and 34th-place finishes this year did not produce the results we were hoping to achieve," Devine said. "I am, however, very proud of Matt DiBenedetto and his many accomplishments over the past two years. He is a wonderful driver and special person. I am confident that Matt will go on to be a very successful NASCAR driver, and I believe it is the right time to release him so that he can pursue other opportunities. Myself and everyone at BK Racing wishes Matt all the best in his future endeavors. I am looking forward to much success for both Matt and BK Racing."

While Ragan and DiBenedetto were BK Racing's primary drivers in 2016, the organization also fielded cars for Jeffrey Earnhardt, Ryan Ellis, Dylan Lupton, Robert Richardson Jr., and Michael Waltrip.

BK Racing made its premier series debut in 2012.