Zane Smith wins rain shortened Truck Series opener at Daytona

 

Photo from Front Row Motorsports

     The reigning NASCAR Truck Series Champion, Zane Smith is off to a victorious start of the 2023 season. Smith found himself in the right place, at the right time on Friday night Feb. 17, winning the rain stricken “Next Era Energy” 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

This race marked the start of a new era for the NASCAR Truck Series, as Craftsman returns as entitlement sponsor for 2023. The first race of this new era saw spontaneous misting from the clouds, that aided seven cautions, and eventually saw the race ending 52.5 miles premature.

One of the first notable wrecks that occurred during this race came on lap 30 involving Clay Greenfield. Greenfield’s No. 84 Tundra broke loose, three-wide in the middle of the pack and resulted in a catastrophe that involved the No. 43, No. 5, No. 13, No. 25, No. 15, No. 22, and No. 32.

Later in the race another significant wreck would occurred involving the No. 52 of Stewart Friesen. On lap 41 Friesen’s truck received an offset push from Ben Rhodes in the No. 99, which led Friesen to spin collecting the No. 99, No. 32, No. 97, No. 75 and No. 9.

The final major wreck that occurred during this racing took place on lap 59, when Rajah Caruth’s No. 25 truck broke free while three wide in the pack. The spinning Silverado collected five racers; the No. 43, No. 25, No. 98, No. 11, and No. 15.

Shortly after this incident the final red flag of the race was brought out, leading to track drying efforts, and the eventual premature ending of the “NextEra Energy” 250.

The following are the complete race results for this NASCAR Truck Series event: 

Image from NASCAR (click to enlarge)