NASCAR News: Chandler Smith wins truck race at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla – Chandler Smith came out of nowhere to steal Friday night’s Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway–and he wasted no time giving the credit where it was due.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ty Majeski!” Smith yelled over the roar after taking the checkered flag in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season opener.

In a star-studded field that included five full-time Cup Series drivers, NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, Travis Pastrana and YouTube star Cleetus McFarland, it was two Truck regulars who teamed up to put Ford back in Victory Lane at Daytona.

Running sixth as the leaders came through Turn 3 on the second lap of overtime, Smith saw his opening. John Hunter Nemechek tried to slide up and block Gio Ruggiero, but the bottom lane stayed wide open. Majeski, glued to Smith’s bumper in the No. 88 Ford, never lifted.

“He is all the credit for how we just won that race, truthfully,” Smith said. “He stayed committed to a Ford and pushed a blue oval to victory. I was surprised the 62 didn’t block it. The seas just parted, and the 88 stayed right there with me. I definitely owe you one, Ty.”

Ruggiero finished a heartbreaking second in the No. 17 Toyota, just 0.044 seconds behind at the stripe. Christian Eckes was third, while Majeski and Nemechek crossed the line in a near-dead heat for fourth and fifth.

“Yeah, it was tight at the end,” said Ruggiero, who also ran second here last year. “Everybody was doing whatever it took to win. I probably would’ve pushed John Hunter to the win, but he almost wrecked me twice. As a group, we Toyotas have to do better. Me, Tanner and Taylor worked well together, but a lot of the others were just out there on their own.”

Cup regular Ricky Stenhouse Jr. came home sixth. Brenden “Butterbean” Queen was the top-finishing Ram driver in seventh — the best result for the brand in its NASCAR return since 2012.

Short Day for the Big Names

Cleetus McFarland’s much-hyped Truck Series debut lasted all of six laps. Entering the tri-oval, the No. 4 Chevrolet snapped loose, spun, and drilled the inside wall before plowing through the grass for more than 100 yards. After a visit to the infield care center, Cleetus was refreshingly honest.

“I’m an idiot,” he said with a grin.

Tony Stewart’s return to NASCAR after nearly a decade ended on Lap 36. Running three-wide on the frontstretch, Jake Garcia got loose in the middle and pinched Stewart’s No. 25 Ram into the outside wall. Repairs failed, and the three-time Cup champion was done.

“I felt comfortable being three-wide up there,” Stewart said. “I didn’t think we were in jeopardy. Just ended up on the wrong end of it.”

Daniel Hemric was black-flagged midway through Stage 2 for a missing spoiler brace and lost three laps in the garage.

Race by the Numbers

The 102-lap race produced a record 32 lead changes among 12 drivers and six cautions for 31 laps. Michael McDowell, Carson Hocevar and Justin Haley each led 20 laps, but none cracked the top 10.

Final Results – Fresh from Florida 250