The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway changed dramatically on Lap 36 of the Fresh From Florida 250. Jake Garcia’s No. 98 Ford lost control exiting Turn 4, colliding with Tony Stewart’s No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram. The impact sent Stewart into the wall, endinghhis return to NASCAR competition prematurely.
Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, was making his first NASCAR appearance since stepping away from full-time competition in 2016. After the incident, Garcia discussed what led to the crash and how he plans to move forward.
Jake Garcia explains what led to the Lap 36 spin
Garcia said the truck suddenly lost grip as he ran in the pack. “Yeah, I just got loose. That’s part of superspeedway racing, I guess,” he said. “I got really free, and I hadn’t been loose at any point before that. I’d run in the middle a couple of times and didn’t have any indication it was coming.”
Jake Garcia noticed cars ahead becoming unstable just before his own truck snapped. He made contact with another competitor before sliding into the wall, triggering a chain reaction that collected Stewart and several others.
Apology to teams and impact on Tony Stewart’s return
Garcia said he felt bad about the outcome and apologized after the race. “It really sucks. I hate it for my guys. I want to apologize to everyone on the 25 and to Tony,” he said. “Stuff like that happens in superspeedway races. We get put in some bad spots, and I just couldn’t hang on to it there.”
The crash brought an abrupt end to Stewart’s highly anticipated return. Before the incident, he had demonstrated a competitive pace.
Track conditions and focus on the Atlanta race ahead
Garcia attributed the spin to the challenging track conditions off Turn 4. “Yeah, the track really flattens out there. That’s where your truck is the lightest, and it also gets a little narrow,” he said. “Everyone’s fighting for the same real estate, so when the trucks get close, you lose the air, the downforce, the side force.”
He added that the balance can change from lap to lap. “Some laps you lose more downforce, some laps more side force. On that lap, for whatever reason, I lost a ton of side force and just couldn’t hang on to it.”
Looking ahead, Garcia identified Atlanta Motor Speedway as his next opportunity to rebound.
“Yeah, I’m really excited to bounce back at Atlanta. I don’t really like superspeedway racing, but I think handling is going to matter there,” he said. “It’s been turning more and more into a handling racetrack.”
He also described how strategy could shape the race. “I think it’s going to come down to making the move to the bottom at the right time at the end of the stage. That’s how you get the most stage points and the most points at the end of the race.”
Garcia described Daytona as a difficult day for his team but expressed optimism about returning to Atlanta as the series continues.
Jake Garcia Apologizes to Tony Stewart After Spin-Out in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Daytona