NCTS Race Recap: Fresh From Florida 250

After the long offseason, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series began its new campaign on the fast Daytona International Speedway. Ty Majeski was the fastest truck in qualifying, so he started in the top spot. Michael McDowell joined him on the front row. Tanner Gray and Carson Hocevar started from the second row. Tony Stewart made his long-awaited return to racing after starting in fifteenth. The stage lengths were 20 laps for the first two, with the final stage being 60 laps.

Cleetus out Early

Majeski and McDowell took the green flag, but McDowell was immediately able to get out front and take the lead. He and his teammate, Hocevar, were able to clear in front of Majeski to take first and second. Tyler Ankrum led the outside line but could not gain ground on the leader. Hocevar used a huge run to get underneath McDowell to take the lead. They swapped the lead back and forth for several laps.

The first caution came out when Cleetus McFarland got loose out of turn one. He turned into the inside wall and hit it hard. After hitting the wall, he drove through the grass, ending his day. He was able to get out of the truck on his own and was cleared by the infield care center.

McDowell and Hocevar got the field back underway. Hocevar cleared his teammate and took the lead. McDowell was able to get back alongside to challenge for the top spot. They raced side by side out front.

With two laps to go, Christian Eckes got a great push from John Hunter Nemechek. That shot Eckes to the front, but he did not have enough speed to take the lead. Hocevar was able to beat Tanner Gray to the line, with a photo finish, to take the first stage win of the season.

Quick Stage 2

Nemechek and Daniel Hemric restarted the race on the front row. Taylor Gray gave Nemechek a push out front, and the inside line did not get going on the restart. Tay. Gray dove to the inside to take the lead. Hocevar picked up the outside line and brought them to the front row.

Halfway through the stage, Hocevar and Tay. Gray led the field, while McDowell and Nick Leitz were pushing the leaders.

The next caution came out when Jake Garcia got loose out of turn two. He turned sideways into the outside wall and collected Stewart. That ended the stage and gave Chandler Smith the stage two win!

Tires

Leitz and Majeski get the race restarted out front. Corey Lajoie tried to push the outside out front but did not have enough power. Majeski was able to get a push from Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. to get back into the lead. Nemechek and Hocevar were able to take the outside back to the front and clear for the lead. As soon as he could, Hocevar dropped down in front of Majeski to take the lead, and they blended into the outside line soon thereafter.

McDowell maneuvered his way back through the field to the front.

Hocevar blew a tire and immediately lost a bunch of speed. It was incredible that no one hit him before he got turned around, which brought out a caution. He was able to get his truck to the pits without too much damage.

With 37 to go, Tay. Gray and Justin Haley brought the field back to green. The top four pulled away but were caught almost immediately. Tay. Gray was the first truck in the outside line and cleared for the outright lead with Nemechek pushing him. Lajoie pushed Haley back out in front of Tay. Gray.

Grant Enfinger slowed on the track with a flat tire with 30 to go in the race, but no caution was thrown.

Layne Riggs was the next driver to have to pull into the pits with a flat tire. He was 13th when the tire blew. He did hit the wall but was able to safely take his truck to pit road.

On lap 80, Hocevar got turned around again with a flat left rear tire. That brought out the next caution.

Race to the End

With 16 to go, Tay. Gray and Haley brought the green back out from the front. Tay. Gray was able to scamper out front with Nemechek pushing him. Majeski tried to push Haley to challenge for the lead, but they did not have enough.

Hocevar got turned, again, off the bumper of Cole Butcher. He brought it straight to the pits without hitting the wall,

Kaden Honeycutt pushed McDowell to challenge for the lead. McDowell was able to take the lead and get in front of Christian Eckes in the middle line. Honeycutt led the inside while Tay. Gray led the outside. McDowell was quickly passed by Eckes, who had Nemechek pushing him.

Riggs made an unscheduled pit stop with five to go with another flat tire.

Tay. Gray got turned in turn four. He had help from Majeski, bringing out the sixth caution. Dawson Sutton got some damage but was able to get to the pits, and Spencer Boyd was also involved.

Overtime in Daytona

McDowell and Honeycutt brought overtime to green. They both got great pushes from behind them. Ruggiero was able to give Honeycutt the edge, which shot him out to the lead. Honeycutt blocked McDowell to hold on to the lead.

Mcdowell got turned around after making contact with Nemechek. He saved it from hitting the wall but fell to the rear, and the race stayed green.

Honeycutt took the white flag in the lead. Ruggiero was pushing him, but got shoved off the track by Nemechek, who was being pushed by Eckes. Nemechek and Eckes split the leaders and pulled out front. They moved to block the outside, which allowed Ruggiero and Smith to get underneath out of turn four. Nemechek blocked Ruggiero low. Ruggiero went to the outside and made contact with Eckes.

That allowed Chandler Smith to slip to the inside and steal the win while four wide! Ruggiero, Eckes, Majeski, and Nemechek rounded out the top five.

Marvin’s Minute:

Chandler Smith stole that victory in the Fresh From Florida 250. That was a great finish after a wonderful race. The field stayed relatively clean, with most of the problems being blown tires. With the new manufacturer in Ram, this year will be an interesting one to keep an eye on. Who will fill the winning ways of Corey Heim? Tune in next week for the Fr8 Racing 208 at Echopark Speedway!