NASCAR trucks race at Daytona results: An 18-truck crash and what you may have missed
Zane Smith nearly twice won Friday’s overtime Truck Series race to open a weekend of NASCAR national series action at Daytona International Speedway.
The Big One held off until a split-second before Smith crossed the start-finish line as the first white flag waved. The yellow light for the caution came out just before that, sending the race into overtime, as 18 trucks collected in a heap on the frontstretch.
Smith held his lead through the overtime laps, officially taking the white flag before more trucks wrecked to end the race. John Hunter Nemechek finished the first two stages out front.
Here were five other moments you might have missed.
1. Corey Heim’s wild night
After an early pit road snafu, No. 51 driver Corey Heim was able to race his way back into contention until losing a tire late in the race. With fewer than 20 laps to go, Heim’s crew worked on his battered truck and sent him back out on the track with instructions to meet minimum speed.
“We just gotta hope a handful of these guys get knocked out of the race and we get positions that way,” Heim’s radio said after pitting.
Those cautions didn’t come quick enough. Heim reported a vibration and pulled his truck off the track just before overtime engaged.
2. The near-wreck(s) that never happened
Before there was The Big One, there were many almost Big Ones. In a particularly dicey early moment, Stewart Friesen bailed from an aggressive-running front-pack with around 65 laps to go, dropping multiple rows back in a matter of seconds on the Daytona backstretch. It somehow didn’t end in damage as Friesen dipped below the double yellow line, which NASCAR warned drivers about intentionally doing to gain track position before the start of the race.
Friesen’s radio commented on the racing ahead of them after the maneuver, saying, “See what I mean? They’re gonna (expletive) wreck,” and, “That’s why we bailed out.”
3. Tate Fogleman’s big save and late crash
Just before the end of the first stage, Tate Fogleman’s No. 30 truck narrowly avoided a spin as his right rear tire went down. Fogleman, driver of the No. 30, was able to keep his truck in line and avoid hitting anything, or causing the Big One. He didn’t spin, but it was a close call for the those racing around him. Swift work by Fogleman behind the wheel, and Hailie Deegan on his tail, prevented any damage.
Unfortunately for Fogleman, he wasn’t able to save himself from a later half-spin as he went sliding down the track to bring out a caution on Lap 79 of 106.
Fogleman finished the race in 22nd, while Deegan finished 17th. Fogleman wasn’t the only driver to display strong wheel-work throughout the evening. It was among the many driver saves that shouldn’t be overlooked despite the late-race crashes.
4. Petty tribute on track
Thad Moffitt, the 21-year-old grandson of NASCAR legend Richard Petty, made his series debut racing the No. 43 truck. He ran a 1992 STP-inspired paint scheme made famous by Petty. GMS Racing and Reaume Brothers announced a partnership before the start of the season that will allow Moffitt, a former ARCA driver, to run a multi-race schedule this year. Moffitt was caught up in the big wreck, but still finished a respectable 18th.
5. Rowdy’s shirt
KBM team owner and Cup driver Kyle Busch was spotted on the grid Friday wearing a T-shirt that read, “Most expensive day every year,” with a graphic of a pile of cash burning. Not only are Busch’s comments typically outspoken, but his apparel apparently is, too. On Friday night, his attire proved accurate.
This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 10:24 PM.
