Coble: Chandler Smith uses Ford tag-team to win wild four-wide Truck Series race at Daytona
Chandler Smith rocketed from sixth place to a victory in the final mile after getting a push from fellow Ford driver Ty Majeski in Friday night's Fresh From Florida 250 Craftsman Truck Series race at the Daytona International Speedway.
DAYTONA BEACH – Friday night’s Fresh From Florida 250 season opener for the Craftsman Truck Series was an extravaganza like no other.
In addition to Truck Series regulars, it had three-time Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart, three Cup Series regulars, former “Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz, YouTube influencer Cleetus McFarland and daredevil Travis Pastrana in the field.
But in the end, it came down to brand loyalty and an enormous amount of luck that catapulted Chandler Smith to Victory Lane.
The Truck Series regular with Front Row Motorsports, Smith’s Ford was in sixth place a little more than a mile from the finish line two laps into overtime when Ty Majeski, who drives a Ford for ThorSport Racing, pulled behind him and gave him a shove.
John Hunter Nemechek was the leader going into the third turn, and he moved his Toyota to the higher groove to block a charge by Gio Ruggiero, the Smith-Majeski tandem rocketed through traffic in the final mile along the bottom lane to the front.
Smith led a four-wide charge at the finish line, beating second-place Ruggiero by a truck length.
“It’s just crazy, the seas parted, the 88 (Majeski) stayed committed to me, and I know everybody at the blue oval (Ford) right now is smiling ear to ear because another Ford pushed another Ford to Victory Lane,” Smith said. “We’ve been trying to get that to happen in the Truck Series for the past few years on an OEM standpoint. Super happy that we were able to – myself and obviously Ty is a huge, huge testament to this win. Without him pushing us, we don’t win this race.”
While the race had a lot of drama – there were 32 lead changes among 12 drivers in 102 laps and six cautions that included four accidents that involved 10 trucks, but the best came down to the final lap.
“I was thoroughly impressed with how out of control I saw so many trucks tonight, how out of control those trucks were tonight,” Smith said. “We didn’t have as many wrecks. I bailed I think halfway through the first stage specifically because these jokers are about to junk it. I wanted to make it to the end of this thing. And they were able to keep it all going straight. So, I was pretty impressed by it.
“I would say this was easily the most chaotic superspeedway race I’ve been a part of in my career for a very long time.”
Christian Eckes wound up third, followed by Majeski in fourth, Nemechek in fifth and 2023 Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr.in sixth.
Stewart spun and crashed out of the race on the 39th lap, and McFarland lost control of his car and left the race after just five laps. And Pastrana, a motocross, rallycross and powerboat racer, finished 15th.
UP NEXT: The Menard’s ARCA Series will open its season on Saturday with the General Tire 200 at noon. Gus Dean will start on the pole after running 183.176 mph in Friday’s time trials. Isabella Robusto will roll off in second place, followed by DeLand’s Daniel Dye in third, Sean Corr in fourth, Bradenton’s McFarland in fifth, Derek White in sixth, Bobby Earnhardt in seventh, Timothy Tyrell in eighth, Ruggiero in ninth, and Robbie Kennealy in 10 ... The O’Reilly Auto Parts season opener United Rentals 300 is scheduled for a 5 p.m. green flag. Qualifying for that race was at 10 a.m. Saturday.
