The Craftsman Truck Series gets their season started with a practice session on Thursday afternoon before qualifying and running the Fresh from Florida 250 on Friday night under the lights.
A field of 44 drivers are looking to fill just 36 spots in the lineup.
Among the drivers is Smoke – Tony Stewart – whose crew had to make some adjustments to the truck minutes before practice began. Having been in the NHRA for the past couple of seasons running top fuel cars with speeds of over 300mph, the 180 mile per hour speeds in the truck must seem very pedestrian to Smoke.
“Race for the Seat” winner Mini Tyrrell gets his first laps in the new Ram truck.
John Hunter Nemechek, Carson Hocevar, Michael McDowell, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are among the drivers at Daytona.
Reports are that Carson Hocevar’s truck may have blown an engine. Hocevar reports that when he went for the shifter, there was a big “explosion” that left a big hole in the floor. Hocevar reports that he was not harmed in the incident.
After Matt Crafton retired from full time racing, the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series champion Ty Majeski has taken over driving the bright yellow number 88 truck.
Truck Series champion Corey Heim won 12 races last year but has moved on in 2026; Kaden Honeycutt is now driving the number eleven truck.
Over a dozen drivers are still back in tech inspection, some for a third time.
After a year in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Taylor Gray returns to the Truck Series to race alongside his brother Tanner.
Cole Butcher, Brenden Queen, and Mini Tyrrell will compete for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year this season.
LOL, Tony Stewart’s crew chief asked Smoke how his water temps were, Smoke said that he’s a driver, he doesn’t look at that stuff.
It’s Smoke day for jokes…he was told to park his truck behind the official NASCAR hauler and asked if he was in trouble already? With five Ram trucks, Kaulig ran out of room to park their trucks and Smoke had no where else to park but behind the NASCAR hauler. 😊
Driving anything that has wheels and a motor, Travis Pastrana and Cleetus McFarland are among the drivers looking to make the race on Friday night.
After his injuries from a big crash last season, Stewart Friesen is back and ready to go.
Kaden Honeycutt tops the leaderboard after practice.
It has been 10 years since Tony Stewart has been behind the wheel of a NASCAR vehicle, he noted how much different things are now but he said he had a lot of fun.
Friday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway means Craftsman Truck Series qualifying for the race later tonight.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Timmy Hill who posted a time of 51.943 seconds.
Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart returns to NASCAR and the Truck Series to drive one of the five new Ram Trucks debuting this season. Driving the number 25 All Star Truck, Smoke posted a time of 51.519 seconds.
With 44 trucks at the track for 36 starting spots, eight drivers will be going home.
The top 10 drivers at the end of qualifying will battle it out in a second round to determine the pole.
Not only has Stewart Friesen returned to racing after his horrific accident last year, he won a race in the dirt car before getting behind the wheel of his truck to post a time of 51.664 seconds.
The eleventh truck out, Christian Eckes posted a time of 51.455 to top the leaderboard and out pace Smoke.
After winning a spot in the 14 Ram Truck, Mini Tyrrell posted a time of 51.810 seconds in his Daytona debut.
Kaden Honeycutt driving the number eleven truck is the first driver to break the 51 second mark with a time of 50.998 seconds.
Carson Hocevar had a pretty dramatic description of what happened in his truck during practice on Wednesday. The transmission blew and had to be replaced.
The top 10 drivers competing in round two for the pole are:
Ty Majeski
Michael McDowell
Carson Hocevar
Kaden Honeycutt
Tanner Gray
Grant Enfinger
Jake Garcia
Gio Ruggiero
Tyler Ankrum
Chandler Smith
The top three drivers ran faster times than the pole for last year’s Fresh from Florida 250 Truck Series race.
Chandler Smith is the first of the top 10 to take to the track and posted a time of 51.317 seconds.
With a time of 50.881 seconds Ty Majeski wins the pole for the Truck Series race with Michael McDowell alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Truck Series race:
Ty Majeski
Michael McDowell
Tanner Gray
Carson Hocevar
Grant Enfinger
Tyler Ankrum
Kaden Honeycutt
Jake Garcia
Gio Ruggiero
Chandler Smith
Christian Eckes
Cleetus McFarland
Travis Pastrana
Taylor Gray
Tony Stewart
Justin Haley
Clay Greenfield
Corey LaJoie
John Hunter Nemechek
Dawson Sutton
Jason Kitzmiller
Brenden Queen
Cole Butcher
Stewart Friesen
Nick Leitz
Kris Wright
Ben Rhodes
Andres Perez
Josh Reaume
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Daniel Dye
Daniel Hemric
Frankie Muniz
Spencer Boyd
Layne Riggs
Jason M White
Mini Tyrrell
Mini Tyrrell took a provisional to make the race and becomes the 37th driver in the race.
Norm Benning, Toni Breidinger, Justin Carroll, Bryan Dauzat, Greg van Alst, Timmy Hill, and Tyler Tomassi failed to qualify for the race.
Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano join Jamie Little in the FOX broadcast booth for the Truck Race.
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 tri-oval.
Driving the 88 truck this season, Ty Majeski brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Michael McDowell alongside. Michael McDowell takes the lead.
The drivers can bump but cannot push or lock bumpers.
Drivers are three wide on lap two.
The top five are Michael McDowell, Carson Hocevar, Ty Majeski, Grant Enfinger, and Ty Majeski.
Lap three, Carson Hocevar battles with Michael McDowell for the lead.
Lap four, Hocevar and McDowell continue their battle for the lead; Ty Majeski, Grant Enfinger, and Tanner Gray round out the top five.
Lap six, After starting from the back of the field, Layne Riggs has entered the top 20.
Cleetus McFarland brings out the first caution flag when he gets into the inside wall hard on the driver’s side and comes to a stop in the grass after some agricultural racing. He was running in tenth place at the time.
A couple of the drivers came down pit road for adjustments.
Michael McDowell brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap eleven with Carson Hocevar alongside. Hocevar gets out in front for the lead, but Michael McDowell comes up on the outside to battle for the lead.
Lap 12, the top five are Michael McDowell, Carson Hocevar, Ty Majeski, Tanner Gray, and Grant Enfinger.
With seven laps remaining in stage one, Carson Hocevar takes the lead of the race.
Lap 15, Mini Tyrrell started the race in last place with a provisional start; he has now entered the top 30.
Michael McDowell has retaken the lead.
Three laps remain in stage one, Carson Hocevar edges out for the lead as the battle between McDowell and Hocevar continues.
Drivers are three wide in a battle to end the stage.
Carson Hocevar edges out to win stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Carson Hocevar
Tanner Gray
Christian Eckes
Michael McDowell
John Hunter Nemechek
Ty Majeski
Taylor Gray
Kaden Honeycutt
Daniel Hemric
Grant Enfinger
Cleetus McFarland has been checked and released from the infield care center. He said that he was an idiot for wrecking the truck on lap seven.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Carson Hocevar winning the race off of pit road with fuel only.
Dana White of the UFC joins Jamie, Kevin, and Joey in the broadcast booth.
After staying out on the track, John Hunter Nemechek leads the race and brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 28.
Lap 28, the top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Taylor Gray, Tyler Ankrum, Nick Leitz, and Carson Hocevar.
Carson Hocevar is moving his way through the field; threading the needle.
Lap 31, Carson Hocevar has worked his way back to the lead with Michael McDowell in second; Taylor Gray, Layne Riggs, and Nick Leitz round out the top five.
After starting at the back of the field, Layne Riggs has worked his way to third place.
Lap 33, Layne Riggs is the new leader with Chandler Smith in second; Ty Majeski, Taylor Gray, and Michael McDowell round out the top five. Carson Hocevar has dropped to 25th.
Chandler Smith passes Layne Riggs for the lead on lap 35.
The caution flag comes out on lap 35 for a multi-truck wreck involving Jake Garcia and Tony Stewart. Garcia hits Stewart and puts Smoke into the wall.
The caution will end the stage with Chandler Smith winning stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Chandler Smith
Layne Riggs
Ty Majeski
Taylor Gray
Michael McDowell
Nick Leitz
Christian Eckes
John Hunter Nemechek
Corey LaJoie
Ben Rhodes
Daniel Hemric was black flagged and had to come down pit road to replace a spoiler brace. He is now three laps down.
Carson Hocevar’s engine just shut down and he got shuffled back in the field.
Stage three is 60 laps in length; with a fuel load of around 32 laps, the drivers will have to make a pit stop during the stage.
Lap 42, drivers come down pit road for service with Nick Leitz winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.
Michael McDowell has to restart the race from the back of the field after an equipment interference penalty.
Nick Leitz brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 46 with Ty Majeski alongside. Ty Majeski takes the lead with Ricky Stenhouse Jr in second; Layne Riggs, Nick Leitz, and Andres Perez round ut the top five.
Drivers are getting three wide with 54 laps to go.
Tony Stewart has been checked and released from the infield care center.
After falling through the field, Carson Hocevar has entered the top 10.
Lap 50, halfway, Michael McDowell has entered the top 20 after restarting the race at the back of the field.
Tony Stewart said that it was just starting to get fun when he was wrecked. When asked if he would do it again, Smoke said he has learned to never say never.
Lap 51, Carson Hocevar is now in the top five.
Lap 52, John Hunter Nemechek takes the lead as he battles with Ty Majeski; Carson Hocevar, Christian Eckes, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr round out the top five.
Lap 53, Carson Hocevar retakes the lead.
A couple in the stands had a sign saying, “this is my honeymoon.”
Lap 58, Carson Hocevar spins out to bring out the caution flag. He was leading the race when he began to fall back in the field with a flat tire. Hocevar was driving backwards through the field and nobody hit anyone before spinning out.
Christian Eckes is the new leader.
Drivers come down pit road for service. Michael McDowell gets blocked in his pit stall.
Justin Haley leads the race with Tanner Gray in second.
Many of the drivers are making a quick top off stop on pit road.
Tanner Gray brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 64 with Justin Haley edging out for the lead. With most of the drivers stopping to top off the fuel, there were only three rows of double file restart. The remainder of the field was single file.
Tanner Gray takes the lead with John Hunter Nemechek in second; Justin Haley, Gio Rugiero, and Ty Majeski round out the top five.
Lap 66, Justin Haley leads the race as drivers get three wide through the field in a battle for position.
Lap 67, the top five are Justin Haley, Tanner Gray, John Hunter Nemechek, Gio Ruggiero, and Ty Majeski.
Lap 69, the first half dozen drivers are single file with the remainder of the field three wide.
Lap 70, Justin Haley in a new Ram truck leads the race with Tanner Gray in second; John Hunter Nemechek, Gio Ruggiero, and Ty Majeski.
Grant Enfinger has to make an unscheduled trip down pit road with a flat tire. He makes it to pit road and the track stays green.
Michael McDowell is getting very aggressive on the track.
Layne Riggs has dropped to the back of the field with a flat tire after some on track contact and the wall. He works his way to pit road.
Lap 75, Justin Haley continues to lead the race with Tanner Gray in second; John Hunter Nemechek, Gio Ruggiero, and Ty Majeski round out the top five.
Lap 78, Carson Hocevar has worked his way back into the top 30 in 29th place.
The caution flag comes out for Carson Hocevar’s spinning out with a flat tire…again.
Some of the drivers come down pit road for service but the leaders stay out on the track.
Tanner Gray brings the field down for the green flag restart with Justin Haley alongside with 16 laps remaining in the race. Justin Haley takes the lead with Tanner Gray in second; Ty Majeski, John Hunter Nemechek, and Brenden Queen round out the top five.
Tanner Gray takes the lead.
Just 13 laps remaining in the race with Tanner Gray out in front; John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Haley, Gio Ruggiero, and Ty Majeski round out the top five.
Carson Hocevar goes around again after some contact with Cole Butcher. The track stays green.
Just 10 laps remain in the race with Tanner Gray leading the way; Christian Eckes, Michael McDowell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Gio Ruggiero round out the top five.
Just seven laps to go and the field is three wide in a pack of chaos.
Lap 95, Michael McDowell is the new leader with Kaden Honeycutt in second.
Layne Riggs is on pit road with another flat tire.
Taylor Gray spins out after contact with Ty Majeski to bring out the caution flag. Spencer Boyd and Dawson Sutton were also involved in the wreck. Mini Tyrrell gets into the wall avoiding the wreck.
The race goes into overtime.
The question of who has enough fuel comes into play.
Michael McDowell brings the field down for the overtime shootout to end the race with Kaden Honeycutt alongside. Kaden Honeycutt gets out in front after a push.
Michael McDowell spins out but the track stays green.
Kaden Honeycutt takes the white flag as McDowell works his way to pit road.
In a big push, Chandler Smith crosses the finish line to win the race with several drivers spread out across the track behind him. And set a new record for lead changes in the process.
The unofficial results for the Fresh from Florida 250:
Chandler Smith
Gio Ruggiero
Christian Eckes
Ty Majeski
John Hunter Nemechek
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Brenden Queen
Kaden Honeycutt
Tyler Ankrum
Stewart Friesen
Nick Leitz
Ben Rhodes
Andres Perez
Cole Butcher
Travs Pastrana
Frankie Muniz
Daniel Dye
Clay Greenfield
Mini Tyrrell
Josh Reaume
Spencer Boyd
Justin Haley
Tanner Gray
Michael McDowell
Kris Wright
Daniel Hemric
Dawson Sutton
Taylor Gray
Grant Enfinger
Jason Kitzmiller
Layne Riggs
Jake Garcia
Jason M. White
Corey LaJoie
Carson Hocevar
Tony Stewart
Cleetus McFarland