DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Chandler Smith got here from the center of nowhere to win the Contemporary from Florida 250 in additional time at Daytona Worldwide Speedway on Friday and instantly gave credit score the place credit score was due.
“Thanks, thanks, thanks, Ty Majeski!” Smith shouted after taking the checkered flag within the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Collection season opener on the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
In a star-studded race that includes 5 full-time NASCAR Cup Collection drivers, NASCAR Corridor of Famer Tony Stewart, daredevil Travis Pastrana and YouTube sensation Cleetus McFarland, the 2 Truck Collection regulars mixed to place a Ford in Victory Lane.
Driving the No. 38 Entrance Row Motorsports F-150, Smith was sixth because the lead group rounded Flip 3 on the second lap of additional time, with John Hunter Nemechek out entrance. However as Nemechek moved up the observe to try a late block on Gio Ruggiero, Smith steamed by way of within the open backside lane with a robust push from Majeski.
“He’s all credit score to how we simply received that race, honestly,” Smith mentioned of Majeski’s push. “He stayed dedicated to a Ford and pushed a blue oval to a win. …
“I used to be shocked the 62 (Nemechek) did not block it. I used to be simply … the seas actually simply parted, and the 88 (Majeski) stayed dedicated to me, and like I mentioned, thanks, thanks, thanks, Ty Majeski. Positively acquired to owe you one on that one.”
Ruggiero got here residence second in his No. 17 TRICON Storage Toyota, 0.044 seconds behind Smith on the stripe. Christian Eckes was third, with Majeski and Nemechek in a digital lifeless warmth for fourth and fifth.
“Yeah, it was tight there on the finish of the race,” mentioned Ruggiero, who additionally completed second in final yr’s Daytona opener. “Everyone was attempting to do no matter it takes to win, and that is what I did for myself and my staff.
“Most likely would have pushed John Hunter to the win there, however he virtually wrecked me twice. I feel total as a bunch, we have to do higher as Toyotas. I assumed me and Tanner (Grey) and Taylor (Grey) labored collectively rather well, however all people else simply appeared like they have been on the market on their very own.”
Cup driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was sixth, adopted by Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, the very best ending Ram driver within the model’s first NASCAR competitors since 2012.
The Truck Collection debut of Garrett Mitchell, a.okay.a. Cleetus McFarland, did not final lengthy.
Approaching the tri-oval on Lap 6, McFarland’s No. 4 Chevrolet broke unfastened, spun uncontrolled, slammed into the within wall and plowed by way of the infield grass, slicing a swath greater than 100 yards lengthy.
After a visit to the infield care heart, Cleetus summed up his first Truck Collection race succinctly.
“I am an fool,” he mentioned.
An accident on Lap 36 took one other marquee driver out of the equation. Jake Garcia, working within the center lane, misplaced management of his No. 98 Ford on the frontstretch and pinched the No. 25 Ram of Stewart into the surface wall.
Tried repairs to Stewart’s truck proved futile, and Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup Collection champion, took the No. 25 to the storage.
“I felt snug being three-wide on the highest there,” mentioned Stewart, competing in a NASCAR occasion for the primary time since 2016. “I did not really feel like we have been placing ourselves in jeopardy. Laborious factor is, I am not likely positive what occurred that acquired us there, however we simply ended up on the fallacious finish of that stick.”
Halfway by way of the second stage, Daniel Hemric, working seventh on the time, was black-flagged for a lacking spoiler brace and misplaced three laps below repairs.
The race featured a file 32 lead modifications amongst 12 drivers and 6 cautions for 31 laps. Michael McDowell, Carson Hocevar and Justin Haley every led 20 laps, however not one of the three completed within the high 10.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Collection Race — Contemporary From Florida 250
Daytona Worldwide Speedway
Daytona Seaside, Fla.
Friday, February 13, 2026
1. (10) Chandler Smith, Ford, 102.
2. (9) Giovanni Ruggiero, Toyota, 102.
3. (11) Christian Eckes, Chevrolet, 102.
4. (1) Ty Majeski, Ford, 102.
5. (19) John Hunter Nemechek(i), Toyota, 102.
6. (30) Ricky Stenhouse Jr(i), Chevrolet, 102.
7. (22) Brenden Queen #, RAM, 102.
8. (7) Kaden Honeycutt, Toyota, 102.
9. (6) Tyler Ankrum, Chevrolet, 102.
10. (24) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 102.
11. (25) Nick Leitz, Toyota, 102.
12. (27) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 102.
13. (28) Andres Perez De Lara, Chevrolet, 102.
14. (23) Cole Butcher #, Ford, 102.
15. (13) Travis Pastrana, Chevrolet, 102.
16. (33) Frankie Muniz, Ford, 102.
17. (31) Daniel Dye, RAM, 102.
18. (17) Clay Greenfield, Chevrolet, 102.
19. (37) Mini Tyrrell #, RAM, 102.
20. (29) Josh Reaume, Ford, 102.
21. (34) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 102.
22. (16) Justin Haley, RAM, 102.
23. (3) Tanner Grey, Toyota, 102.
24. (2) Michael McDowell(i), Chevrolet, 101.
25. (26) Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 101.
26. (32) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 101.
27. (20) Dawson Sutton, Chevrolet, 101.
28. (14) Taylor Grey(i), Toyota, 101.
29. (5) Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 100.
30. (21) Jason Kitzmiller, Chevrolet, 100.
31. (35) Layne Riggs, Ford, 98.
32. (8) Jake Garcia, Ford, 98.
33. (36) Jason White, Ford, 98.
34. (18) Corey LaJoie(i), Chevrolet, Engine, 92.
35. (4) Carson Hocevar(i), Chevrolet, Suspension, 88.
36. (15) Tony Stewart, RAM, Accident, 39.
37. (12) Cleetus Mitchell, Chevrolet, Accident, 5.
Common Velocity of Race Winner: 121.429 mph.
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 6 Minutes, 0 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.044 Seconds.
Warning Flags: 6 for 31 laps.
Lead Modifications: 32 amongst 12 drivers.
Lap Leaders: M. McDowell(i) 1-2;C. Hocevar(i) 3;M. McDowell(i) 4-9;C. Hocevar(i) 10;M. McDowell(i) 11;C. Hocevar(i) 12;M. McDowell(i) 13;C. Hocevar(i) 14;M. McDowell(i) 15-16;C. Hocevar(i) 17;M. McDowell(i) 18;C. Hocevar(i) 19-23;J. Nemechek(i) 24-28;C. Hocevar(i) 29-33;L. Riggs 34;C. Smith 35-41;L. Riggs 42;N. Leitz 43-45;T. Majeski 46-50;J. Nemechek(i) 51-52;C. Hocevar(i) 53-57;J. Nemechek(i) 58-60;T. Pastrana 61;J. Haley 62-63;T. Grey 64-65;J. Haley 66-83;T. Grey 84-92;M. McDowell(i) 93;C. Eckes 94;M. McDowell(i) 95-100;Ok. Honeycutt 101;C. Smith 102.
Leaders Abstract (Driver, Occasions Lead, Laps Led): Justin Haley 2 occasions for 20 laps; Michael McDowell(i) 8 occasions for 20 laps; Carson Hocevar(i) 8 occasions for 20 laps; Tanner Grey 2 occasions for 11 laps; John Hunter Nemechek(i) 3 occasions for 10 laps; Chandler Smith 2 occasions for 8 laps; Ty Majeski 1 time for five laps; Nick Leitz 1 time for 3 laps; Layne Riggs 2 occasions for two laps; Kaden Honeycutt 1 time for 1 lap; Travis Pastrana 1 time for 1 lap; Christian Eckes 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 High Ten: 77,15,91,62,7,11,88,1,12,9
Stage #2 High Ten: 38,34,88,1,7,5,91,62,75,99
–By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Particular to Discipline Degree Media.
