Zane Smith Wins Opening Truck Race at Daytona

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – RIS – Zane Smith must have racing at Daytona International Speedway figured out.  For the second consecutive time, he won the season opening NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday night.  This time it wasn’t an exciting finishing pass.  It was persisting rain that is common to tropical Florida.  Smith had managed to make a pass just before the rain started and after an hour wait, the race was called. Smith was in front when NASCAR called the race official with 21 laps of the scheduled 100 to go. The race ended at 11:12 p.m. ET.  Smith, last year’s Truck Series champion, won the Daytona opener for the second consecutive year.

“I know there’s about a million ways to get one at Daytona, but we’re proving that,” Smith said. “Obviously wanted to go back racing there, somewhat, to duke it out with good friends of mine actually, but, hey, we’ll take a win at Daytona any day we can get it. Just a huge shout-out to everyone at Front Row Motorsports. This whole group, I’ve said it over and over again, they work their guts out, and they prove it. Locked into the playoffs, it’s like a repeat of last year.”

Following Smith at the finish were Tanner Gray, Christian Eckes, Colby Howard and Grant Enfinger.

 Former Cup Series champion Chase Elliott was 10th, and action sports star Travis Pastrana, who is scheduled to make his Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500 Sunday, was 13th.

The trucks remained on the track as light rain fell earlier in the race, but officials parked the field on pit road under red-flag conditions when showers across the 2.5-mile track became heavier with 27 laps to go. Smith led the race at that point.

After a delay, trucks returned to the track under caution, but showers and a stubborn lingering mist forced them to pit road again six laps later, and NASCAR made the race official a few minutes later.

An accident involving several trucks on the backstretch forced a caution flag at the end of the second stage. Stewart Friesen, racing on the outside near the front, attempted a block but wound up running head-on into the outside wall. Several trucks spun out behind him.

Clay Greenfield lost control of his truck in three-wide racing on lap 28 and triggered a six-vehicle accident. Hailie Deegan‘s truck was heavily damaged in the incident. Debris from the accident caused a red-flag delay.

“I saw the 84 (Greenfield) sideways and that was pretty much that,” Deegan said. “I saw him going down the track, so I went up.  It was a split-second decision.  You just go right or left, and they ended up bouncing back up off another truck, so it is what it is.  We know that Daytona is one of those races where you either finish in the top 10 or you end up on the trailer home.”

The middle lane also proved to be the wrong route for Rajah Caruth, who started an accident after he lost control of his truck with 42 laps to go trying to run through the middle.

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Stage 1 winner: Christian Eckes

Stage 2 winner: Tyler Ankrum

Who had a bad race: A multi-truck accident on lap 28 resulted in Hailie Deegan, Dean Thompson and Clay Greenfield parking their vehicles for the night. … Stewart Friesen was strong in the middle part of the race but lost control of his truck racing toward the stage-two finish, sparking a multi-truck accident. … Rookie Rajah Caruth started an accident that involved several trucks on lap 58.

Unofficial Results: Nextera Energy 250, February 17, 2023 - Daytona International Speedway

Fin, Str, Driver, Truck, Laps , Stage 1 Pos, Stage 2 Pos, Pts, Status, Tms, Laps, Playoff Pts
1) 15, Zane Smith, No. 38 Love's/Speedco Ford, 79, , , 40, Running, 3, 17, 5
2) 19, Tanner Gray, No. 15 Dead On Tools Toyota, 79, 8, , 38, Running, , , 
3) 4, Christian Eckes, No. 19 Napa Autocare Chevrolet, 79, 1, 5, 50, Running, 4, 19, 1
4) 21, Colby Howard, No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet, 79, , , 33, Running, 1, 2, 
5) 16, Grant Enfinger, No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet, 79, 10, 8, 36, Running, , , 
6) 2, Ty Majeski, No. 98 Road Ranger Ford, 79, 6, 6, 41, Running, 2, 2, 
7) 27, Tyler Ankrum, No. 16 Liuna! Toyota, 79, , 1, 40, Running, 3, 15, 1
8) 13, Corey Heim, No. 11 Safelite Toyota, 79, , , 29, Running, , , 
9) 6, Matt Crafton, No. 88 Mold-Armor/Menards Ford, 79, 2, 3, 45, Running, 1, 2, 
10) 14, Chase Elliott(I), No. 35 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet, 79, , , 0, Running, , , 
11) 26, Ben Rhodes, No. 99 Clarks Pump-N-Shop Ford, 79, , 7, 30, Running, , , 
12) 9, Carson Hocevar, No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 79, 7, 10, 30, Running, , , 
13) 25, Travis Pastrana(I), No. 41 Worldwide Express/Brcc Chevrolet, 79, , , 0, Running, , , 
14) 20, Sammy Smith(I), No. 17 Mobil 1 Toyota, 79, , , 0, Running, , , 
15) 7, Jason A White, No. 1 Celsius Toyota, 79, , , 22, Running, , , 
16) 32, Timmy Hill, No. 56 Coble Enterprises Toyota, 79, , , 21, Running, , , 
17) 10, Chase Purdy, No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet, 79, , 2, 29, Running, 1, 1, 
18) 11, Derek Kraus, No. 20 Hardscape Construction Inc Chevrolet, 79, , , 19, Running, , , 
19) 34, Josh Reaume, No. 22 Jag Metals Ford, 79, , , 18, Running, , , 
20) 8, Matt Dibenedetto, No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet, 79, 3, , 25, Running, , , 
21) 36, Jason M White, No. 34 Powder Ventures Excavations Toyota, 79, , , 16, Running, , , 
22) 30, Kris Wright, No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet, 79, , , 15, Running, , , 
23) 5, Corey Lajoie(I), No. 7 Schluter Systems Chevrolet, 79, , , 0, Running, 3, 19, 
24) 35, Mason Massey, No. 33 Brunt Ford, 79, , , 13, Running, , , 
25) 33, Chris Hacker, No. 30 Morgan & Morgan P.A. Toyota, 79, , , 12, Running, , , 
26) 1, Nick Sanchez #, No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 79, 5, 4, 24, Running, , , 
27) 3, Jack Wood, No. 51 Eberlestock Chevrolet, 79, 9, 9, 14, Running, , , 
28) 23, Stewart Friesen, No. 52 Aim Autism/Halmar Toyota, 74, , , 9, Running, 2, 2, 
29) 17, Rajah Caruth #, No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet, 57, , , 8, Accident, , , 
30) 29, Daniel Dye #, No. 43 Giuseppe's Steel City Pizza Chevrolet, 57, , , 7, Accident, , , 
31) 22, Bret Holmes #, No. 32 Pate Holdings Chevrolet, 49, , , 6, Brakes, , , 
32) 24, Parker Kligerman(I), No. 75 Purina/Food Country Usa Chevrolet, 45, , , 0, Dvp, , , 
33) 28, Codie Rohrbaugh, No. 97 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet, 39, , , 4, Accident, , , 
34) 31, Clay Greenfield, No. 84 Backyard Blues Pools Toyota, 28, , , 3, Accident, , , 
35) 12, Hailie Deegan, No. 13 Ford Performance Ford, 28, 4, , 9, Accident, , , 
36) 18, Dean Thompson, No. 5 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota, 28, , , 1, Accident, , ,
(I) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Race Length: 79 Laps, 197.5 Miles
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 9 Mins, 23 Secs.
Average Speed: 115.935 Mph
Margin of Victory: Under Caution

Stage 1 Top 10: 19, 88, 25, 13, 2, 98, 42, 15, 51, 23
Stage 2 Top 10: 16, 4, 88, 2, 19, 98, 99, 23, 51, 42

Comments: Zane Smith has won the Nextera Energy 250 At Daytona International Speedway, his eighth career victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.

Prior to the start, the following vehicle(s) dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reason indicated: Nos. 4, 7, 84, 34, 22 (unapproved adjustments), No. 43 (transmission change), No. 30 (engine change).

Failed To Qualify: (6) 45 Lawless Alan, 28 Bryan Dauzat, 96 Todd Peck, 12 Spencer Boyd, 04 Kaden Honeycutt, 46 Norm Benning.

Caution Flags: 7 For 40 Laps; Laps: 3-6 (Weather [None]); 8-10 (Weather [None]); 22-25 (Stage 1 Conclusion [None]); 30-35 (#43, 84, 5, 13, 25, 15, 22, 32 Incident Frontstretch [Red Flag 1: 00:09:06] [Red Flag 2: 00:02:57] [None]); 41-47 (#52, 32, 97, 75, 9, 99 Incident Backstretch / Stage 2 Conclusion [15]); 59-64 (#25, 43, 24, 98, 11, 15 Incident Turn 3 [52]); 69-0 (Weather [Red Flag: 01:00:54] [30]).

Lead Changes: 20 Among 9 Drivers; N. Sanchez # 0; T. Majeski 1; C. Eckes 2-12; M. Crafton 13-14; C. Eckes 15-18; T. Majeski 19; C. Eckes 20-22; T. Ankrum 23-25; S. Friesen 26; T. Ankrum 27-36; C. Howard 37-38; S. Friesen 39; T. Ankrum 40-41; C. Purdy 42; C. Lajoie(I) 43-46; Z. Smith 47; C. Eckes 48; C. Lajoie(I) 49-52; Z. Smith 53; C. Lajoie(I) 54-64; Z. Smith 65-79.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Unofficial Points 
Rank Driver        Car    Starts         GL     Points        Ldr    Nxt    Race Wins  Stage Wins Playoff Pts
1.      Christian Eckes    19     1       -1      50     0       0       0       1       1
2.      Matt Crafton        88     1       -2      45     -5      5       0       0       0
3.      Ty Majeski  98     1       -3      41     -9      4       0       0       0
4.      Zane Smith 38     1       -4      40     -10    1       1       0       5
5.      Tyler Ankrum       16     1       -5      40     -10    0       0       1       1
6.      Tanner Gray         15     1       -6      38     -12    2       0       0       0
7.      Grant Enfinger     23     1       -7      36     -14    2       0       0       0
8.      Colby Howard       9       1       -8      33     -17    3       0       0       0
9.      Ben Rhodes 99     1       -9      30     -20    3       0       0       0
10.    Carson Hocevar    42     1       -10    30     -20    0       0       0       0
11.    Corey Heim 11     1       -11    29     -21    1       0       0       0
12.    Chase Purdy        4       1       -12    29     -21    0       0       0       0
13.    Matt DiBenedetto 25     1       -13    25     -25    4       0       0       0
14.    Nick Sanchez #     2       1       -14    24     -26    1       0       0       0
14.    Nick Sanchez #     2       1       -14    24     -26    1       0       0       0
15.    Jason A White      1       1       -15    22     -28    2       0       0       0
16.    Timmy Hill  56     1       -16    21     -29    1       0       0       0
17.    Derek Kraus         20     1       -17    19     -31    2       0       0       0
18.    Josh Reaume       22     1       -18    18     -32    1       0       0       0
19.    Jason M White     34     1       -19    16     -34    2       0       0       0
20.    Kris Wright 02     1       -20    15     -35    1       0       0       0
21.    Jack Wood  51     1       -21    14     -36    1       0       0       0
22.    Mason Massey      33     1       -22    13     -37    1       0       0       0
22.    Mason Massey      33     1       -22    13     -37    1       0       0       0
23.    Chris Hacker        30     1       -23    12     -38    1       0       0       0
24.    Stewart Friesen    52     1       -24    9       -41    3       0       0       0
25.    Hailie Deegan       13     1       -25    9       -41    0       0       0       0
26.    Rajah Caruth #    24     1       -26    8       -42    1       0       0       0
27.    Daniel Dye #        43     1       -27    7       -43    1       0       0       0
28.    Bret Holmes #      32     1       -28    6       -44    1       0       0       0
29.    Codie Rohrbaugh  97     1       -29    4       -46    2       0       0       0
30.    Clay Greenfield     84     1       -30    3       -47    1       0       0       0
31.    Dean Thompson   5       1       -31    1       -49    2       0       0       0
32.    Chase Elliott(i)      35     1       0       0       -50    1       0       0       0
33.    Travis Pastrana(i) 41     1       0       0       -50    0       0       0       0
34.    Sammy Smith(i)    17     1       0       0       -50    0       0       0       0
35.    Corey LaJoie(i)      7       1       0       0       -50    0       0       0       0
36.    Parker Kligerman(i)        75     1       0       0       -50    0       0       0       0
37.    Lawless Alan                 0       -37    0       -50    0       0       0       0
38.    Bryan Dauzat                0       -38    0       -50    0       0       0       0
39.    Todd Peck            0       -39    0       -50    0       0       0       0
40.    Spencer Boyd                0       -40    0       -50    0       0       0       0
41.    Kaden Honeycutt           0       -41    0       -50    0       0       0       0
42.    Norm Benning               0       -42    0       -50    0       0       0       0
 -Ldr/-Nxt = Points behind Leader/Next higher, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series