The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season roared to life under the lights at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 13th, and if the opener was any indication of what’s ahead, fans are in for a wild year.

The Fresh From Florida 250 delivered everything superspeedway racing promises: tight drafting packs, bold three- and four-wide moves, late-race carnage, and an overtime finish that left the field scrambling for survival. When the smoke cleared after 102 laps, it was Chandler Smith who emerged from the chaos, executing a daring final-lap move to capture his first win of the season.

Stage 1: Early Discipline in the Draft
​The opening 20 laps featured relatively clean racing as drivers settled into the draft and formed manufacturer alliances. Pole winner Ty Majeski controlled the early pace, hugging the bottom lane while Chevrolet and Toyota trucks organized the outside line.
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​Stage 1 Top 10
1. Ty Majeski
2. Chandler Smith
3. Carson Hocevar
4. Grant Enfinger
5. Tyler Ankrum
6. Christian Eckes
7. Gio Ruggiero
8. John Hunter Nemechek
9. Stewart Friesen
10. Kaden Honeycutt

The stage ended without major incident, but the intensity in the draft was already building.

Stage 2: Aggression Turns Up
Stage 2 saw drivers become more aggressive with side drafting and momentum blocks. The first significant caution flew mid-stage when a stack-up entering Turn 3 triggered a multi-truck incident involving mid-pack contenders. Several trucks sustained damage but continued.

Late in the stage, a solo spin on the backstretch brought out another yellow, bunching the field once more and setting up a frantic run to the green-and-white checkered flag for the stage.

Stage 2 Top 10
1. Christian Eckes
2. Chandler Smith
3. Ty Majeski
4. Gio Ruggiero
5. Carson Hocevar
6. Grant Enfinger
7. John Hunter Nemechek
8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
9. Tyler Ankrum
10. Stewart Friesen

Smith’s consistency across both stages positioned him perfectly for the final push.

Final Stage: “The Big One” Strikes
Superspeedway tension peaked inside the final 25 laps.

With the field running three-wide entering Turn 1, slight contact in the middle lane triggered “The Big One.” Trucks scattered across the track, several sliding into the infield grass. Championship hopefuls saw their nights end abruptly, while others barely escaped with cosmetic damage.

The race featured multiple cautions in the closing laps, including one inside 5 laps to go that forced NASCAR to extend the event into overtime.

Overtime Drama
On the overtime restart, the field lined up two-wide. Majeski chose the inside lane, while Eckes led the outside. Smith restarted inside the top five and immediately began looking for daylight.

White flag in the air.

Heading into Turn 3, the pack compressed. Smith ducked low, then shot high in the tri-oval as the field fanned out four-wide. With a perfectly timed push from behind, Smith surged ahead at the line, winning by inches in one of the closest finishes in recent Truck Series Daytona history.

Final Top 10 Finishers
1. Chandler Smith
2. Gio Ruggiero
3. Christian Eckes
4. Ty Majeski
5. John Hunter Nemechek
6. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
7. Brenden Queen
8. Kaden Honeycutt
9. Tyler Ankrum
10. Stewart Friesen
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Caution Summary & Key Incidents

The race totaled multiple caution periods, a hallmark of Daytona pack racing, and reshuffled the running order several times.

What This Win Means
Chandler Smith leaves Daytona with maximum momentum. Not only did he show drafting intelligence, but he proved he can execute under pressure when it matters most. In a season where consistency and playoff positioning are critical, stealing a superspeedway win early is massive.

For the rest of the field, Daytona was a reminder: survival is just as important as speed.
The 2026 Truck Series season is officially underway — and if this opener is any sign, the road to the championship will be anything but predictable.

Final Thoughts
Daytona once again proved why it’s one of the most unpredictable tracks in motorsports. Strategy, teamwork, patience, and bold decision-making all played a role — but in the end, it took one perfectly timed move to secure victory.
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​The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will be back on Saturday at Echopark Speedway on Saturday, February 21st, for the Fr8 Racing 208. 
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​Don't forget to check out The S3 Podcast LIVE on our Youtube Channel every Wednesday at 6PM EST as hosts Jeff Demers and Marnie Tisdale break down NASCAR's "News and Notes" heading into every race weekend. You can also listen to our show recordings by going to The S3 Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.