{"id":56014,"date":"2026-02-13T23:55:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T05:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=56014"},"modified":"2026-02-15T18:14:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T00:14:03","slug":"chandler-smith-steals-overtime-win-in-nascar-craftsman-truck-series-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/13\/chandler-smith-steals-overtime-win-in-nascar-craftsman-truck-series-opener\/","title":{"rendered":"Chandler Smith steals overtime win in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series opener"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chandler Smith, driver of the #38 TrophyCatch Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Reid Spencer,\u00a0 NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.\u2014Chandler Smith came from the middle of nowhere to win Friday\u2019s Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway and immediately gave credit where credit was due.<\/p>\n

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Chandler Smith, driver of the #38 TrophyCatch Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThank you, thank you, thank you, Ty Majeski!\u201d Smith shouted after taking the checkered flag in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season opener at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.<\/p>\n

In a star-studded race salted with five full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers, NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, daredevil Travis Pastrana and Youtube sensation Cleetus McFarland, the two Truck Series regulars combined to put a Ford in Victory Lane.<\/p>\n

Driving the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports F-150, Smith was sixth as the lead group rounded Turn 3 on the second lap of overtime, with John Hunter Nemechek out front. But as Nemechek moved up the track to attempt a late block on Gio Ruggiero, Smith steamed through in the open bottom lane with a strong push from Majeski.<\/p>\n

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Chandler Smith, driver of the #38 TrophyCatch Ford, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Curry\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cHe is all credit to how we just won that race, truthfully,\u201d Smith said of Majeski\u2019s push. \u201cHe stayed committed to a Ford and pushed a blue oval to a win\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI was surprised the 62 (Nemechek) didn’t block it. I was just \u2026 the seas literally just parted, and the 88 (Majeski) stayed committed to me, and like I said, thank you, thank you, thank you, Ty Majeski. Definitely got to owe you one on that one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ruggiero came home second in his No. 17 TRICON Garage Toyota, 0.044 seconds behind Smith at the stripe. Christian Eckes was third, with Majeski and Nemechek in a virtual dead heat for fourth and fifth.<\/p>\n

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Chandler Smith, driver of the #38 TrophyCatch Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cYeah, it was tight there at the end of the race,\u201d said Ruggiero, who also finished second in last year\u2019s Daytona opener. \u201cEverybody was trying to do whatever it takes to win, and that’s what I did for myself and my team.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably would have pushed John Hunter to the win there, but he almost wrecked me twice. I think overall as a group, we need to do better as Toyotas. I thought me and Tanner (Gray) and Taylor (Gray) worked together really well, but everybody else just seemed like they were out there on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cup driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was sixth, followed by Brenden \u201cButterbean\u201d Queen, the highest finishing Ram driver in the brand\u2019s first NASCAR competition since 2012.<\/p>\n

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Ty Majeski, driver of the #88 Ideal Door\/Menards Ford, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Truck Series debut of Garrett Mitchell, a.k.a. Cleetus McFarland, didn\u2019t last long.<\/p>\n

Approaching the tri-oval on Lap 6, McFarland\u2019s No. 4 Chevrolet broke loose, spun out of control, slammed into the inside wall and plowed through the infield grass, cutting a swath more than 100 yards long.<\/p>\n

After a trip to the infield care center, Cleetus summed up his first Truck Series race succinctly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m an idiot,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

An accident on Lap 36 took another marquee driver out of the equation. Jake Garcia, running in the middle lane, lost control of his No. 98 Ford on the frontstretch and pinched the No. 25 Ram of Stewart into the outside wall.<\/p>\n

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Michael McDowell, driver of the #7 Tibbetts Lumber Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Attempted repairs to Stewart\u2019s truck proved futile, and the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion took the No. 25 to the garage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt comfortable being three-wide on the top there,\u201d said Stewart, competing in a NASCAR event for the first time since 2016. \u201cI didn\u2019t feel like we were putting ourselves in jeopardy. Hard thing is, I\u2019m not really sure what happened that got us there, but we just ended up on the wrong end of that stick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Midway through the second stage Daniel Hemric, running seventh at the time, was black-flagged for a missing spoiler brace and lost three laps under repairs.<\/p>\n

The race featured 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 of the three finished in the top 10.<\/p>\n

Interview: NCTS Race Winner – Chandler Smith (No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford) –<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n