The Craftsman Truck Series season begins with 38 drivers vying for 36 starting spots in the race on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway for the Fresh from Florida 250.

Thursday afternoon’s practice session was cancelled after a big rain storm hit Daytona. 

Six young drivers will battle for the Rookie of the Year this season. 

Timmy Hill is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and posted a time of 52.187 seconds.

The 39 drivers will each make a single lap with the top 10 drivers moving on to round two to set the pole.

Chandler Smith posted a time of 51.261 seconds after a hard crash and extended time in the infield care center during the Duel races on Thursday night.

Champion driver Johnny Sauter is the winningest driver at Daytona in the Truck Series with three wins.  He posted a time of 51.172 seconds.

A 73 year old Norm Benning has timed his way into the race!

Tyler Ankrum has his qualifying time disallowed after not coming to a full stop at the end of pit road as required.  NASCAR requires the drivers to come to a complete stop to prove the brakes are properly installed and not altered to increase speed.  While Ankrum did not come to a stop at the required line, he did stop past the line. 

Finally 18 years old. William Sawalich is making an attempt to race in the Truck Series at Daytona for the first time before climbing into his full time Xfinity Series car.

Stewart Friesen has been penalized after the track bar was not installed properly and will not be allowed to make a qualifying run.  He will start the race from the back of the field.

Gio Ruggiero’s number 17 truck is smoking and has some sparks coming out.  He cut the tire going into turn one.

Tyler Ankrum said the brakes locked up; adding that the official told him to go after he came to a stop.  He noted that a later start does not help your launch for a good itme at Daytona.

Ben Rhodes barely missed breaking the 51 second mark with 51.069 seconds.

Michael McDowell makes a return to the Truck Series after a 16 year absence – five children ago.  He posted a time of 51. 853 seconds.  He noted that he wanted to win a race in all three of the NASCAR racing series.

Matt Crafton has raced in every race in the Truck Series since 2000.  This season will be his 25th anniversary for the three time Truck Series champion.

The 10 drivers moving on to round two are:
Ben Rhodes
Corey Heim
Ty Majeski
Johnny Sauter
Chandler Smith
Grant Enfinger
Jake Garcia
Kaden Honeycutt
Clay Greenfield
Dawson Sutton

Four of the top 10 trucks are out of the Thor Sport garage.

Bryan Dauzat and Justin Carroll failed to qualify for the race.

Chandler Smith notes that he is beat up after last night’s Duel crash; saying his back, arm, and wrist all hurt.

First up on the track is Dawson Sutton who posted a time of 51.423 seconds.

Johnny Sauter will not make a second qualifying run with a tire issue.

Running the fastest lap so far, Ty Majeski posted a time of 51.009 seconds.  The 2024 Truck Series champion sat on the pole six times last season.

With a time of 50. 995 seconds, Ben Rhodes puts his number 99 truck on the pole with teammate Ty Majeski starting alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the
Ben Rhodes
Ty Majeski
Corey Heim
Grant Enfinger
Jake Garcia
Chandler Smith
Dawson Sutton
Kaden Honeycutt
Clay Greenfield
Johnny Sauter
Matt Crafton
Tanner Gray
Rajah Caruth
Frankie Muniz
Daniel Hemric
Spencer Boyd
Justin Haley
Andres Perez de Lara
Bayley Currey
Mason Maggio
Jack Wood
Norm Benning
Parker Kligerman
Matt Mills
Nathan Byrd
William Sawalich
Layne Riggs
Toni Breidinger
Jason White
Connor Mosack
Michael McDowell
Josh Reaume
Timmy Hill
Gio Ruggiero
Stewart Friesen
Tyler Ankrum

Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano join Jamie Little in the FOX Sports broadcast booth.

Jake Garcia, Gio Ruggiero, and Connor Mosack have moved to the back of the field after the crews made some unapproved adjustments.

Stages one and two are just 20 laps each with stage three lasting 60 laps for a total of 100 laps around the 2.5 mile track.

Connor Mosack has a gear issue and will not start the race until it is repaired.

Ben Rhodes brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with teammate Ty Majeski alongside.  Rhodes jumps out in front for the lead with Ty Majeski in second.

Lap two, Clay Greenfield gets shuffled away from the field.

Lap four, the first caution flag of the race comes out when Kaden Honeycutt gets loose trying to pass Ben Rhodes for the lead.  Honeycutt gets into the inside wall.  His truck is being towed to the garage.

Matt Crafton comes down pit road for an ECU issue; the truck keeps shutting off.

Ben Rhodes brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 10 with Tanner Gray alongside.  The drivers are side by side with Ben Rhodes getting out in front.

The top five are Ben Rhodes, Tanner Gray, Johnny Sauter, Andres Perez, and Grant Enfinger in a new cammo scheme.

Lap 12, Benn Rhodes and Tanner Gray battle for the lead.

Johnny Sauter did not make a second round of qualifying due to a possible tire issue.  That issue may still be an issue but Sauter says that he is fine.

Back on the track, Matt Crafton is still having issues with the truck shutting off.

Lap 14, Ben Rhodes and Grant Enfinger battle for the lead with Enfinger getting out in front.

Lap 15, Grant Enfinger leads the race with Tanner Gray in second; Ben Rhodes, Johnny, and Chandler Smith round out the top five.

Toni Breidinger spins out to bring out the second caution flag of the race with five laps remaining in stage one.

Matt Crafton is back on pit road with the hood up while the crew continues to try and diagnose the trouble in the truck.

Grant Enfinger brings the field down for the green flag restart and a one lap shootout to end stage one.  Ben Rhodes takes the lead with Grant Enfinger in second.

Ben Rhodes wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Ben Rhodes
Johnny Sauter
Grant Enfinger
Chandler Smith
Corey Heim
Tanner Gray
Ty Majeski
Daniel Hemric
Andres Perez
Gio Ruggiero

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service, but a few stay out on the track.

Jason White is charged with an uncontrolled tire penalty.

Ben Rhodes in on pit road with the hood up.

After staying out on the track, Justin Haley leads the race.

Justin Haley brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Daniel Hemric alongside on lap 26.

Justin Haley leads the race with Daniel Hemric in second; Jake Garcia, William Sawalich, and Jack Wood round out the top five.

Lap 28, Parker Kligerman takes the lead with Grant Enfinger in second.

Lap 29, Justi Haley passes Grant Enfinger for second.

After engine issue, Matt Crafton is in the top 10.

Lap 30, Ben Rhodes has moved through the field and is now in second place with Grant Enfinger in the lead.

Lap 32, the top five are Ben Rhodes, Grant Enfinger, Matt Crafton, Parker Kligerman, and Layne Riggs.

Lap 33, Grant Enfinger passes Ben Rhodes to retake the lead as the two battle back and forth.

Seven laps remain in stage two and the drivers are three wide.

Lap 35, Matt Crafton leads the race.

Connor Mosack is on the track but is 16 laps down.

Lap 38, the drivers have gotten single file with Matt Crafton leading the way.

Lap 39, drivers are beginning to make their moves to get to the front before the end of stage two.

Matt Crafton wins stage two.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Matt Crafton
Ben Rhodes
Ty Majeski
Chandler Smith
Jack Wood
Stewart Friesen
Corey Heim
Daniel Hemric
Parker Kligerman
William Sawalich

Drivers come down pit road for service

After Matt Crafton made a pit stop, Corey Heim is the new leader with Daniel Hemric in second.

Corey Heim brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 46.  Getting a push from Grant Enfinger, Daniel Hemric takes the lead.

Drivers are getting three and four wide in a battle for position.

Lap 47, Daniel Hemric leads the race with Grant Enfinger in second; Chandler Smith, Layne Riggs, and Corey Heim round out the top five.

The caution flag comes out on lap 49 when Tyler Ankrum “blows up”.  Dawson Sutton was right behind Ankrum and got a windshield full of smoke.

Chandler Smith is the leader of the race.

The track looks a little like the beach with all of the “speedy dry” on the track to soak up the oil left by Tyler Ankrum’s truck.

Drivers come down pit road for service.

After what he called his hardest hit ever during the Duel race last night, a sore Chandler Smith leads the race and brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 56.

Chandler Smith leads the race with Daniel Hemric in second; Parker Kligerman, Grant Enfinger, and Justin Haley round out the top five.

Lap 57, Daniel Hemric and Chandler Smith battle for the lead.

Lap 59, Daniel Hemric gets out in front for the lead.

Chandler Smith retakes the lead.

Lap 61, Chandler Smith leads the race with Grant Enfinger in second.

Lap 63, the top five are Chandler Smith, Daniel Hemric, Parker Kligerman, Grant Enfinger, and Timmy Hill.

All of the drivers will have to make one more pit stop in order to make it to the end of the race.

Lap 66 drivers begin to make green flag pit stops.  Grant Enfinger was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.

Stewart Friesen and Toni Breidinger were caught speeding on pit road.

Clay Greenfield spins out and hits the wall hard to bring out the sixth caution flag of the race on lap 69.

All of the cautions for on track incidents tonight have occurred in turn four.

When pit road opens all of the trucks who had not made a pit stop, come down for service.

Gio Ruggiero is the new leader with Tanner Gray in second and brings the field down for the green flag restart with 25 laps remaining in the race.

The top five are Gio Ruggiero, Tanner Gray, Rajah Caruth, Corey Heim, and Chandler Smith.

Drivers are three wide with Gio Ruggiero leading in his Truck Series debut.

Lap 77, Chandler Smith retakes the lead after restarting the race in 13th. 

Lap 78, Gio Ruggiero and Chandler Smith battle for the lead.

Twenty to go!  Chandler Smith leads the race with teammate Layne Riggs in second; Gio Ruggiero, Daniel Hemric, and Tanner Gray round out the top five.

Drivers are getting four wide across the track!

The caution flag comes out on lap 82 for a big crash that sends Rajah Caruth sailing across the track and into the wall.  Matt Crafton, Jack Wood, Toni Breidinger, Ben Rhodes, Michael McDowell, Ty Majeski, and Nathan Byrd were also involved.

Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart with Tanner Gray alongside with 12 laps remaining in the race.

Tanner Gray takes the lead.

Gio Ruggiero takes the lead; Chandler smith drops to fifth.

The pack is three wide.

Ten to go, Gio Ruggiero leads the race and battles with Tanner Gray for the lead.

Eight to go, Gio Ruggiero holds on to the lead with Tanner Gray in second; Corey Heim, Daniel Hemric, and Bayley Currey round out the top five.

Seven to go and the leaders have gotten single file.

Six to go, Gio Ruggiero leads the race with the front of the pack single file.  The inside lane is slowly moving up to the leaders.

Five to go, Bayley Currey takes the lead on the inside with Grant Enfinger on the outside.

Four to go, Ben Rhodes takes the lead as the drivers get more aggressive.

Three to go, drivers are trying to form a third lane.  Parker Kligerman and Ben Rhodes battle for the lead with Rhodes up front.

Ben Rhodes and Parker Kligerman battle for the lead as they take the white flag.

Ben Rhode and Johnny Sauter spin out. The caution flag comes out as more drivers crash.

Parker Kligerman was the leader at the time of the caution and wins the race.  Last season Kligerman retired from full time driving in the Xfinity Series and returns to the broadcast booth full time with some park time Truck Series driving.

Kligerman does an impressive burn out in celebration of the win.  He called it the greatest win of his career.

The unofficial results of the Fresh from Florida 250:
Parker Kligerman
Corey Heim
Gio Ruggiero
Ty Majeski
Grant Enfinger
Justin Haley
Chandler Smith
Daniel Hemric
Jason White
William Sawalich
Frankie Muniz
Timmy Hill
Jake Garcia
Layne Riggs
Andres Perez de Lara
Mason Maggio
Norm Benning
Johnny Sauter
Spencer Boyd
Josh Reaume
Ben Rhodes
Bayley Currey
Tanner Gray
Stewart Friesen
Jack Wood
Dawson Sutton
Michael McDowell
Matt Crafton
Toni Breidinger
Matt Mills
Rajah Caruth
Natan Byrd
Connor Mosack
Clay Greenfield
Tyler Akrum
Kaden Honeycutt