When the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race ended on Friday, Feb. 13, it was Chandler Smith making a last lap pass and racing four wide to Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway.
Coming to the checkered flag on lap 101, John Hunter Nemechek was showing the way out Turn 4. With a push from pole sitter Ty Majeski, Smith dove his No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford to the low side, inside Nemechek’s No. 4 Toyota and drag raced to the finish line.
Overtime came into play when three Trucks wrecked on Lap 95 of the 100-lap scheduled race. Rounding out the top five finishers was Giovanni Ruggiero, Christian Eckes, Majeski and Nemechek that had a race record 36 lead changes.
Chandler Smith Wins Daytona Truck Race in Overtime
Smith started 10th and remained a front runner for a major portion of the race. Lurking in the top five for the final laps, he was able to make the moves he needed to get past the leader of Nemechek and claim his eighth NCTS victory.
“I want to thank God for blessing me with such a great group of men and women around me at Front Row Motorsports,” a happy Smith said. “Ty Majeski is one the best Ford teammates I have ever worked with and that’s how we just won that race. He stayed cemented to a Ford and we took the win.
“I was surprised the No. 62 (Nemechek) didn’t block the lower line. It seemed the seas literally parted and the No. 88 (Majeski) just stayed committed to me.
“I can’t thank him enough.”
Gio Ruggiero Had No Interest in Helping Nemechek
Gio Ruggiero finished the same place he did in last year’s Daytona opener – second. Coming to the checkered flag, the driver of the No. 17 Toyota for TRICON Garage had choices to make.
One option he didn’t take was helping Nemechek to a win.
“You just have to do whatever it takes to win and that’s what I did for my team,” said a stern faced Ruggiero. “I probably would have pushed John Hunter to the win, but he tried to wreck me twice.
“I think, overall, we need to do better as Toyotas. I thought me, Tanner (Gray) and Taylor (Gray) worked together pretty well. Everyone else seemed like they were out there on their own.”
Carson Hocevar Goes from Stage Winner to Spinner
Hocevar won the Stage 1 honors on Lap 20 beating Tanner Gray to the line by mere feet. For much of the stage, Hocevar had his No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet out front racing with teammate Micheal McDowell in the No. 7 Chevrolet.
Gray took his No. 15 TRICON Garage Toyota to the outside gaining valued track position. Rounding out the top-five was Christian Eckes, John Hunter Nemechek and McDowell.
From there, Hocevar had a difficult night suffering flat tires and spins to bring out several cautions. He would finish 35th out of 37 entries.
Chandler Smith Claims Stage 2 Win
Because of an incident on Lap 36 involving Jake Garcia and Tony Stewart, the field finished Stage 2 under caution. With the field locked under yellow, Smith was credited with the points and stage victory.
Following him and also earning points was Layne Riggs, pole sitter Ty Majeski, Taylor Gray and McDowell.
Stewart and McFarland Wreck, Pastrana Finishes
For the three drivers making an appearance in the NCTS race, two had a short night while another made it to the end.
The first caution of the night on Lap was for YouTube star Cleetus McFarland when he spun and hit the inside wall. A caution on Lap 36 took out three-time NASCAR Cup Series and Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart.
Travis Pastrana, the XGames star, finished the race in 15th place.
Chandler Smith Takes Four-Wide Victory in Daytona Truck Race