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Ford Racing Notes and Quotes – NOAPS United Rentals 300 Post-Race Quotes

By
Official Release
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Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
United Rentals 300 — Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, February 14, 2026

Nick Sanchez finished eighth in Stage 1, despite being collected in a multi-car accident coming to the finish line. The damage, however, was enough to force him out of the race in 36th place.

NICK SANCHEZ, No. 25 Better Compute Works Inc. Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT DID YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU? “Not a whole lot. Obviously, there was a wreck on the bottom and I was committed middle-top and it came up to me and I got caught up in it. It’s really unfortunate for the whole AM Racing team. MCL, Better Compute Works and Ford. We had a really good car in the beginning and was able to drive up from the back. We were just racing hard and got collected, which sucks. That’s the second year in a row.”

DID YOU SEE THE REPLAY? “I don’t really know what was going on, honestly. I wasn’t really expecting them to wreck there. I mean, it’s not really a place you’d wreck, but someone wasn’t clear and it’s just super unfortunate. It’s still so early in the race and I know everyone is racing hard, but you also have a race to finish. It sucks that my team got caught up in it and I got caught up in it. We had a fast race car and nothing to show for it.”

HOW DID THE WIND AFFECT THE HANDLING? “Honestly, my car was super planted to the racetrack. I didn’t really pull out of line. I didn’t think my car was good enough to lead a line, so you probably saw me stay at the top quite a bit and stay tucked up, but my car was handling fine. I had one little moment, but other than that, the wind wasn’t really affecting me.”

YOUR FIRST RACE WITH FORD AND AM Racing AND FROM WHERE YOU STARTED YOU GOT TO THE FRONT, SO YOU HAD A FAST FORD MUSTANG. “Yeah. The Mustang Dark Horse was really fast and I think it’s just a testament to the team and Roush Yates Engines and everyone involved. It’s unfortunate to go out this early, but if you’re gonna go out, go out showing speed. Me and my team, and obviously Ford Racing, showed speed so I think we have a lot to look forward to in future races.”

Gio Ruggiero Earns First ARCA Win At Daytona

By
Briar Starr
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Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com

In just his 13th career ARCA Menards National Series start, Truck Series regular Gio Ruggiero earned his first career win in the series at Daytona International Speedway on a late race restart. The 20-year-old held off a late surging Jake Bollman off Turn 4 to grab the checkered flag after starting in the ninth position. The win was a bit of redemption for Ruggiero after being in contention to win Friday night’s race but ending up in the runner-up spot.

“Yeah, it’s awesome, obviously I wanted to win last night and came up short, so got one more to win in the afternoon (O’Reilly Auto Parts Series),” Ruggiero told Fox Sports 1 in his post-race interview. “The race got hectic there at the end. I was just trying to push our lane forward, and the 15 (Jake Finch) got squirrely in front of me and lost it. That was unfortunate for him, but I’m glad we came out with the win.”

Gio Ruggiero
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan

The issue forced the No. 55 Nitro Motorsports car behind the wall after it failed to shift into gear and ran at low RPM, ending her bid for the win and any shot at a strong finish.

The ARCA Menards Series opened its 2026 season Saturday afternoon with the first race of the year. Veteran driver Gus Dean, who piloted the No. 25 Nitro Motorsports Toyota, claimed the pole Friday afternoon with a time of 49.13 seconds at 183.176 mph. It was his first pole since 2018 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. His Nitro Motorsports teammate, Jake Bollman, originally had the pole, but his time was disallowed after failing post qualifying tech, which then moved Dean up a spot.

Like Friday night’s race, there were numerous stars in the field. They included YouTube sensation Cleetus McFarland, also known as Garrett Mitchell, making another career ARCA start. Bobby Dale Earnhardt, the grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt, was also in the field. The RAM Race for the Seat winner, Timothy “Mini” Tyrell, made his ARCA debut as well.

The race saw an action-packed originally scheduled 80 laps, but went into overtime following a late-race accident on the backstretch. It involved two race leaders and teammates, Finch and Dean, who wrecked each other after a strong push from Ruggiero. Finch went in front of the field and took Dean with him, resulting in a DNF for both cars. Fortunately, no other cars were involved in the incident.

Throughout the race, there were six cautions, including a final caution with two laps to go, that slowed the General Tire 200. The first caution came on Lap 6 for Mini Tyrell, who spun on the backstretch. The backstretch would be the place for a few more cautions. On Lap 17, Wesley Slimp in the No. 90 spun on the backstretch with a left-rear tire going down. Then, at Lap 39, just one lap before the halfway break on Lap 40, Caleb Costner in the No. 93 stalled on the back straightaway.

At the halfway mark, it was leader Daniel Dye, Ruggiero, Thomas Annunziata, Jack Wood, Dean, Bollman, Finch, Mitchell, Jason Kitzmiller and Isabella Robusto, rounding out the Top 10. Unfortunately for Robusto, who had a strong showing early and led at times, was pushed behind the wall for gear problems. The issue forced the No. 55 Nitro Motorsports car behind the wall after it failed to shift into gear and ran at low RPM, ending her bid for the win and any shot at a strong finish.

After the halfway break, Ruggiero showed some speed by trying to make the second line work. Two laps later, with 28 to go, another yellow flag was thrown as the No. 9 of Presley Sorah wrecked in Turns 3 and 4. The race went green shortly afterward, but the yellow came out once more with 13 laps to go when Alli Owens went up in smoke going into Turn 1. She spun and collected the No. 8 of Sean Corr, and both wound up wrecked. A brief red flag was displayed for oil cleanup.

Then, in a late race restart with eight to go, as the cars went on the backstretch, Jason Kitzmiller in the No. 97 pushed Thomas Annunziata into the No. 70 and sent him spinning toward the wall, bringing out an extended fifth caution. Due to this incident, the caution period was extended. Then, while running under caution in the 10th position, rookie Taylor Reimer began having mechanical issues. This forced her to go behind the wall and relegated her to a 30th-place finish due to a dead battery.

McFarland was running one lap down before the yellow, but he was able to get his lap back, thanks to the lucky dog.

With two laps to go, Finch and Dean were hoping to give Nitro Motorsports a banner day by finishing one-two with Ruggiero lurking in the third position. Unfortunately, the two Nitro cars were involved in a wreck, forcing the event into an overtime situation. This meant the white flag would be displayed at the same time as the green flag. There was a spin involving Tim Richmond on the backstretch on the last lap, but no yellow was thrown, allowing the event to stay green.

Ruggiero had enough momentum to hold off the cars behind him and grab the victory. It was his first win at Daytona.

“Coming here this weekend, obviously had three races and three chances to win, so that was my goal,” Ruggiero told MRN Radio in victory lane. “Still disappointed about last night, especially with the strong truck we had, but hats off to this 18-team. They brought such a fast car and did a really good job at the end there to make the moves that we did and came home with the win. We have one (O’Reilly Auto Parts Series) later in the day, so going to try and get two today. It’s a good way to start the day.”

The victory was a special one for Ruggiero as he won with the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with Coach Joe Gibbs in attendance and in victory lane. The number has held a lot of significance throughout the years in NASCAR. Ruggiero was able to add his name to the list of winners in the No. 18 car with the win.

“Yeah, it’s awesome, I’ve had a couple of close chances now to win in this car, especially losing some of the races on restarts, so I finally got one.”

The victory was Ruggiero’s first in his 13th ARCA Menards Series National platform start. Ruggiero led twice for six laps en route to victory.

Bollman, Kole Raz, Dye, Glen Reen, Wood, Kitzmiller, Ryan Vargas, Bobby Earnhardt, and Andy Jankowiak rounded out the top-10. Cleetus McFarland secured the 11th position.

There were seven cautions for 32 laps and seven lead changes with six different drivers.

Official Results Following The General Tire 200 at Daytona International Speedway

  1. Gio Ruggiero led six laps
  2. Jake Bollman
  3. Kole Raz
  4. Daniel Dye led 20 laps
  5. Glen Reen
  6. Jack Wood
  7. Jason Kitzmiller
  8. Ryan Vargas – led one lap
  9. Bobby Earnhardt
  10. Andy Jankowiak
  11. Garrett Mitchell
  12. Michael Maples
  13. Bryce Applegate
  14. A.J. Moyer
  15. Robbie Kennealy
  16. Takuma Koga
  17. Willie Mullins
  18. Bryce Haugeberg
  19. Hunter Deshautelle
  20. Jake Finch – led 32 laps
  21. Ed Pompa
  22. Eric Caudell
  23. Tim Richmond
  24. Charles Weslowski, 1 lap down
  25. Brad Smith, 2 laps down
  26. Thomas Annunziata, 2 laps down
  27. Presley Sorah, 2 laps down
  28. Bryan Dauzat, 4 laps down
  29. Gus Dean led 15 laps, OUT, Accident
  30. Taylor Reimer, 5 laps down
  31. Con Nicolopoulos, 6 laps down
  32. Caleb Costner, 12 laps down
  33. Sean Corr, OUT, Accident
  34. Alli Owens, OUT, Accident
  35. Wesley Slimp, OUT, Mechanical
  36. Alex Clubb, OUT, Mechanical
  37. Isabella Robusto – led 10 laps, OUT, Mechanical
  38. Timothy Tyrell, OUT, Mechanical
  39. Derek White, OUT, Mechanical
  40. Ryan Huff, OUT, Mechanical

Up Next – The next event for the ARCA Menards Series is the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway, Thursday night, March 5th, live on FS1 at 6 p.m./ET. This will be a combination event with the ARCA Menards West Series.

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes – Ford Mustang Dark Horses Posts Five Fastest Speeds in Final Daytona 500 Practice

By
Official Release
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Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Daytona 500 Final Practice — Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, February 14, 2026

The top five speeds in today’s final Daytona 500 practice session were all Ford Mustang Dark Horses, led by the RFK Racing trio of Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski. Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Buescher, who drives the No. 17 Body Guard Ford Mustang Dark Horse, talked about going to a backup for tomorrow’s race and his hopes for ending up in Victory Lane.

CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 Body Guard Ford Mustang Dark Horse – HOW DO YOU FEEL IN THIS BACKUP FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE? “I have a tremendous amount of confidence in this team and they’ve buckled down and hustled to clean this backup Ford Mustang Dark Horse with the No. 17 Body Guard colors and we’re rockin’ and rolling. It’s nice to take these Ford Mustangs and put them in a line and be able to put some speed up on the board. We know we were able to in the Duels, and I think we’ve got a good handle on it. We’ve got plenty of laps, so I’m ready for the 500 now. We get to watch this thing unfold at least for the drop of the green and work hard to go up there and be a part of it.”

FIVE FORDS AT THE TOP OF THE BOARD TODAY. DO YOU FEEL ALL OF THE OFFSEASON PREP HAS PAID OFF FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION TO BE IN POSITION TO WIN? “Yeah, absolutely. I think we always come to these speedways with a ton of speed and a lot of handling across the entire Ford camp. I’ll speak on RFK and say that if we can commit to that amount of teamwork that has become so important here, it will set us up for success at the end of 500 miles. I have no complaints. If I didn’t know it was a backup in my head ahead of time, I would say that’s our same race car. That’s exactly what you’re after when something like that does happen. It’s a good start to a recovery story right there.”

Casey Mears, driver of the No. 66 SI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford Mustang Dark Horse, will be starting 17th in tomorrow’s Daytona 500, which will be his 495th career Cup Series start. He spoke about making The Great American Race and how he feels after today’s final practice session.

CASEY MEARS, No. 66 SI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford Mustang Dark Horse – A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE ON WITH THIS FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. DO YOU FEEL YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE READY FOR THE 500? “I think so. The key parts and pieces of the car, I know it was a big job to get it to where it is now, but the undertray and the heights and all that kind of stuff is the same, so we didn’t really bend much suspension. It was really slight, so I feel pretty good that the guys got it pretty close. Obviously, there could be some nuances. When I get in the draft, it could handle differently, but there’s really no such draft to test right now and see what it’s gonna be like. I’ll be the first to find out and you’ll probably be the second or third, but, right now, I think the guys did a really good job because not only did they have to rebuild this car, they had to disassemble a car and rebuild a car, so the work and effort and the time that it took to do it, I’m proud of these guys for the limited experience that we do have on this team. They all chipped in and got it done right.”

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE LAST LAP IN THE DUEL RACE? “Just make it at all costs is the final thought, but leading into it on that final lap, Jimmie and a couple of other guys happened to be behind me. I was tail end of the lead pack and what I did was just roll out of it a little bit going into one and two to create a gap, otherwise you don’t get a run. Fortunately, I was able to back up to Jimmie and those guys and we were able to hook up and get some momentum going towards the pack going into turn three. There was a hole up top and I couldn’t believe it was wide open. I thought it would be three-wide, but when I got there the top was wide open. We hit it and I was able to pass two or three guys honestly, and then when they all started checking up we had the momentum. Thank God we were able to miss the 99. He shot up in front of me so quick that I made a quick reaction, slightly missed him, and then the 7 shot up in front of me so quick that there was nowhere to go. Thankfully, we hit him square. It didn’t tear the car up too bad and here we are, but I can tell you right now I sat there and watched that video probably 50-60 times that night and I didn’ get to sleep until about two o’clock in the morning. I had so many people texting and calling and wishing congratulations and then so many people – old fans reaching out through social media – and I just felt an obligation to respond back to them. They took the time out of their day, plus I was wound up and I couldn’t get to sleep anyway. So, I’m just real proud of everybody that’s involved, especially Bob Germain. Obviously, Carl Long and these guys bringing everything here to do it, but Bob has been a good friend of mine for a long time and he’s the one that really stepped up to make sure we can do this program.”

THIS WILL BE CUP START NUMBER 495, SO IT’S ANOTHER ON THE MARCH TO 500. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO GET ANOTHER ONE TOWARDS THAT GOAL? “It means a lot because going into this I didn’t know if we were gonna be able to check that box or not, so knowing that after the Daytona 500 there are five more that we need to get is definitely satisfying in itself. Being a part of this race is amazing. It’s definitely a different range of emotions now than it probably would have been 10 years ago. It’s a big race, but in the past I knew I would have been locked in and we would be able to just focus on doing our job and securing as many points as we can to start the season off right and win this race, but now I can look at it through a little bit different lens. I feel this is the bonus round. We’ve made it now past the hard part. Our job now on Sunday is to be competitive, show people that we can run with them, show them that I’m not out of control and in control and hopefully make some friends so when it comes down to the end of the race there are people that are willing to work with me.”

AM Racing Adds New Partners to Kick Off 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Season

By
Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C. (FEBRUARY 14, 2026) — Ahead of its fourth season of NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition, AM Racing announced today the addition of two new marketing partners for the 2026 season, beginning with Saturday afternoon’s United Rentals 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Better Compute Works will serve as the primary marketing partner on the team’s No. 25 Ford Mustang driven by former ARCA Menards Series champion and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race winner Nick Sanchez in the 120-lap season opener.

Better Compute Works designs, builds and operates AI-native compute infrastructure for enterprises, governments and hyperscalers, delivering secure and scalable AI data center solutions worldwide.

Joining Better Compute Works at Daytona is MAR CARIBE LINE, a maritime transportation company founded on integrity and reliability and committed to connecting the Americas through superior shipping and logistics solutions.

AM Racing president Wade Moore said the addition of both organizations reflects the team’s continued growth entering the 2026 campaign.

“We are proud to welcome Better Compute Works and MAR CARIBE LINE to AM Racing as we begin our fourth season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series,” said Moore.

“Both companies share our commitment to performance, innovation and long-term growth. Aligning with forward-thinking organizations like these strengthens our program both competitively and commercially and Daytona provides the perfect platform to launch those partnerships.”

The Statesville, N.C.-based organization returns to the 2.5-mile superspeedway following a top-10 finish in last year’s season opener — a performance that helped set the foundation for the team’s first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Playoff appearance.

Sanchez, a graduate of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program, will make his third O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Daytona and looks to deliver AM Racing its first series victory in the organization’s 100th start.

“I’m excited to start the season at Daytona with Better Compute Works and MAR CARIBE LINE on board,” added Sanchez.

“This team made significant strides last year, and everyone at AM Racing has continued working hard in the offseason to build on that momentum. Daytona is one of the biggest stages in our sport, and we’re focused on putting ourselves in position to contend and represent our partners at the front.”

In addition to Sanchez, the Ford Racing organization will field a second entry in the first of two NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Daytona this season, with local native Daniel Dye driving the No. 52 Champion Container Ford Mustang.

The United Rentals 300 (120 laps | 300 miles) is the first of thirty-three (33) NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races on the 2026 schedule. The 38-car field will take the green flag shortly after 5:00 p.m., with live coverage on The CW Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About AM Racing:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multifaceted motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, the organization prides itself on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

Entering its 11th year of competition, AM Racing will compete across NASCAR’s national and developmental ranks during the 2026 season.

ARCA Menards Series at Daytona International Speedway: General Tire 200 Post-race Notes

By
Official Release
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Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com
  • Gio Ruggiero (No. 18 1st Auto Group Toyota) scored the victory in the ARCA Menards Series’ season-opening General Tire 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Ruggiero held off Jake Bollman (No. 20 SynerFuse Toyota) on a one-lap overtime dash to the checkered to win for the first time in his ARCA Menards Series career.
  • Ruggiero has three career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts at Daytona and its sister track, Talladega Superspeedway. His worst finish is second, twice, at Daytona in 2025 and 2026 and he won at Talladega in 2025. It was his first career ARCA Menards Series start at Daytona.
  • Bollman turned the fastest lap in Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Qualifying, but his time was disallowed after an infraction in post-qualifying technical inspection relegating him to 33rd starting position. Bollman steadily worked his way through the field and missed two big accidents in the final ten laps to score his first career ARCA Menards Series top-five finish.
  • Kole Raz (No. 76 Breeze Hydrogen Fuels Ford) narrowly made the race on time, starting in the 32nd position. Raz was bumped into the field when Bollman’s time was disallowed; had that not happened, he would have missed the starting field due to not having enough owner points from 2025 to fall back on. Raz finished a career-best third driving for 2009 ARCA Menards Series championship-winning crew chief Mark Rette and team co-owner Terry Jones, who finished second in the 2017 ARCA Menards Series race at Daytona.
  • Hometown hero Daniel Dye (No. 24 Champion Container Ford) restarted on the front row for the final restart but didn’t get help from behind over the final lap and dropped to fourth at the finish. Dye, from nearby Deland, Florida, finished in the top five in both career ARCA Menards Series starts at Daytona; he was third in 2022.
  • Glen Reen (No. 07 New Wave Bath Ford) scored his second consecutive top-five finish in the ARCA Menards Series in fifth. Reen, a former regular in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, also finished fourth last year at Watkins Glen International. Reen was joined in the top ten by KLAS Motorsports teammate Andy Jankowiak (No. 71 Dak’s Markets Chevrolet), who finished tenth.
  • Jack Wood (No. 28 Road Ranger Chevrolet) finished sixth driving for last year’s race-winning and championship-winning team, Pinnacle Racing Group. Wood’s teammate Taylor Reimer (No. 77 BuzzBalls Chevrolet) was running in the top ten late in the race before being befallen with electrical issues that ended her day in 30th position.
  • Jason Kitzmiller was also relegated to the 34th starting position after his qualifying time was disallowed, but he expertly drove to the front of the field and notched his third consecutive top-ten finish at Daytona in seventh.
  • Ryan Vargas (No. 91 Maples Motorsports Ford) led for the first time in his ARCA Menards Series career when he crossed the line first to complete lap 24. Despite losing the lead before the completion of the next lap, Vargas stayed in the top ten the rest of the way and came home a career-best eighth.
  • Bobby Earnhardt (No. 89 SmartGrid Integrations Chevrolet) kept team owner Tim Goulet’s car in the front half of the field all afternoon, scoring an impressive ninth-place finish. Earnhardt is the only member of the Earnhardt family driving in competition during SpeedWeeks 25 years after the loss of his grandfather Dale Earnhardt on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
  • There were nine different organizations represented in the top ten: Joe Gibbs Racing in first, Nitro Motorsports in second, Rette Jones Racing in third, Sigma Performance Services in fourth, KLAS Motorsports in fifth and tenth, Pinnacle Racing Group in sixth, CR7 Motorsports in seventh. Michael Maples Motorsports in eighth, and RISE Racing in ninth.
  • There were seven lead changes among seven drivers; Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Award winner Gus Dean led the opening nine laps before ceding the lead to his Nitro Motorsports teammate Isabella Robusto (No. 55 Mobil 1 Toyota). Dye took the lead at lap 20 and led for four laps before Vargas led lad 24. Dye led again from lap 25 through lap 40, while Dean led from lap 41 through 46. Jake Finch (No. 15 Phoenix Toyota) led the most laps of the day, 31, from laps 47 through 78. He crashed from the lead on lap 79, sending the race into overtime and allowing Ruggiero to lead the final four laps.
  • Ruggiero’s winning margin of victory was 0.142 seconds; his winning average speed was 107.202 miles per hour. Twenty-three of the race’s 40 starters finished on the lead lap. Thirty-one drivers were still running at the finish; only three were out due to accidents.
  • The ARCA Menards Series returns to Daytona International Speedway in February for the 63rd Annual Daytona ARCA 200. On-track activity starts with practice on Thursday, February 12, with the starting field determined in qualifying on Friday, February 13. The Daytona ARCA 200 is set for noon on Saturday, February 14 and will be televised live on FOX. The race will also be broadcast on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network nationwide and can be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Live timing & scoring data for all on-track activities can be found at ARCARacing.com; follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.

About ARCA  

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization to sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit , or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).  

About Menards 

A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro! 

   Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.  

Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services. 

Front Row Motorsports: Daytona International Speedway NCTS Race Report- Layne Riggs / Chandler Smith

By
Official Release
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Layne Riggs | Chandler Smith
Daytona International Speedway NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Report
Fresh From Florida 250
Date: Friday, February 13th, 2026
Event: Race 1 of 25
Series: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Location: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile)
Length of Race: 102 laps over two hours, six minutes, 0 seconds

FRM Finish:

Chandler Smith (Started 10th, Finished 1st / Running, completed 102 of 102 laps)
Layne Riggs (Started 35th, Finished 31st / Running, completed 98 of 102 laps)

FRM Points Standings:

Chandler Smith (1st)
Layne Riggs (22nd)

Chandler Smith Key Takeaways

Stage One: 31st / Stage Two: 1st / Race Result: 1st

Chandler Smith captured his first career victory at Daytona International Speedway last night, winning the season-opening NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The win marked the 16th overall win for Front Row Motorsports’ Truck Series program and its third victory at Daytona.

“First off, I want to shout out all glory to God. Without Him, none of this would be possible. And I am super, super grateful that I serve such a loving God that blessed me with such a good group of men and women around me at Front Row Motorsports. Ty Majeski, one of my best four teammates I’ve ever worked with. He is all credit to how we just won that race truthfully. He stayed committed to a Ford and pushed a Blue Oval to a win. Just super, super grateful for everybody on this No. 38 Ford F-150 group. We made some changes in the off-season. I felt like last year everybody for the most part knows how this 38 group came together last year, but we built on it and made this group so much better for this year, and I’m so excited for 2026. I was surprised the 62 didn’t block it. I was just — the seas literally just parted, and the 88 stayed committed to me, and like I said, thank you, thank you, thank you, Ty Majeski. Definitely got to owe you one on that one.”

Layne Riggs Key Takeaways

Stage One: 15th / Stage Two: 2nd / Race Result: 31st

“First off, congratulations to Chandler Smith and the No. 38 team. It’s a great start to the season for the organization to have one of our trucks in Victory Lane. Today just wasn’t our day for the No. 34 group. We struggled with handling and overall speed early in the race, and just as we got it to a more manageable spot, we cut a tire and went three laps down. There are still some early-season kinks to work through as we get back into the rhythm, but it’s a long season, and every race is a new opportunity to win and gain points.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, FRM has earned top honors including a 2021 Daytona 500 victory and the 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship. Based in Mooresville, N.C., FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and No. 38 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the No. 34 and No. 38 teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. For more information, visit teamfrm.com and follow Front Row Motorsports on social media — X: @Team_FRM, Instagram: @teamfrm, Tik Tok: @Team_FRM, YouTube: @FrontRowNASCAR, and Facebook: facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Austin Hill claims O’Reilly pole at Daytona

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Austin Hill notched the first pole position of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season for the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 14.

The event’s qualifying format consisted of two single-car qualifying rounds. In the first round, each of the 42 competitors entered to bid for 38 starting spots cycled around Daytona through a single-timed lap. At the conclusion of the first qualifying round, the top-10 fastest competitors transferred to the second and final round, where they each ran a single qualifying lap while battling for the pole position.

During the qualifying session’s first round, Hill, a 31-year-old native of Winston, Georgia, and driver of the No. 21 Bennett Transportation/Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro entry, posted the third-fastest qualifying lap at 182.065 mph in 49.433 seconds. After being one of 10 competitors to transfer to the final round, he posted a pole-winning lap at 182.223 mph in 49.390 seconds.

With the pole, Hill notched his seventh career pole in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division, his third at Daytona, his fifth on superspeedway tracks and his first since Texas Motor Speedway in May 2025. 

The 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season is scheduled to mark Hill’s fifth consecutive campaign in the series. As he continues the pursuit of his first series’ championship, Hill is set to strive for his fourth Daytona opener victory after previously winning the event in three consecutive seasons (2022-24). 

Currently, 10 of Hill’s 14 O’Reilly victories occurred on superspeedway tracks as he looks to add a 15th to commence the 2026 season.

Hill will share the front row with Jesse Love, the reigning NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion and teammate at Richard Childress Racing. Love, who is also the reigning Daytona opener winner, posted the second-fastest qualifying speed at 182.146 mph in 49.411 seconds during the first round. He ended up posting the second-fastest lap during the final round at 182.219 mph in 49.391 seconds.

Should either Love or Hill win Saturday’s 2026 O’Reilly opener at Daytona, Richard Childress Racing would achieve its 11th victory at Daytona and fifth in a row during the opener.

Sam Mayer, driver of the No. 41 Audibel/Haas Factory Team Chevrolet Camaro entry, qualified in third place and he will share the second starting row with William Sawalich. Sawalich, driver of the No. 18 Soundgear/Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Supra entry, was the fastest qualifier during the first round at 182.157 mph in 49.408 seconds. Ultimately, he ended up the fourth fastest at 182.079 mph in 49.429 seconds.

Corey Day, an O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time rookie candidate driving the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro entry for Hendrick Motorsports, will start in fifth place. Sheldon Creed, rookie Rajah Caruth, rookie Patrick Staropoli, Taylor Gray and Ryan Sieg completed the top-10 starting grid.

Notably, the following names that include Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith, Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, Giovanni Ruggiero, Jordan Anderson, Carson Hocevar, Jeb Burton, Harrison Burton, Nick Sanchez, Jeremy Clements, Austin Green, Natalie Decker and rookie Lavar Scott will start 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 35th and 37th, respectively.

With 42 competitors vying for 38 starting spots, Garrett Smithley, David Starr, Anthony Alfredo and Joey Gase were the four who failed to qualify for the main event.

Qualifying position, Best speed, Best time:

1. Austin Hill, 182.223 mph, 49.390 seconds

2. Jesse Love, 182.219 mph, 49.391 seconds

3. Sam Mayer, 182,190 mph, 49.399 seconds

4. William Sawalich, 182.079 mph, 49.429 seconds

5. Corey Day, 182.076 mph, 49.430 seconds

6. Sheldon Creed, 182.076 mph, 49.430 seconds

7. Rajah Caruth, 181.921 mph, 49.472 seconds

8. Patrick Staropoli, 181.789 mph, 49.508 seconds

9. Taylor Gray, 181.609 mph, 49.557 seconds

10. Ryan Sieg, 181.422 mph, 49.608 seconds

11. Carson Kvapil, 181.331 mph, 49.633 seconds

12. Sammy Smith, 181.148 mph, 49.683 seconds

13. Justin Allgaier, 181.083 mph, 49.701 seconds

14. Blaine Perkins, 181.057 mph, 49.708 seconds

15. Brandon Jones, 180.966 mph, 49.733 seconds

16. Giovanni Ruggiero, 180.945 mph, 49.739 seconds

17. Jordan Anderson, 180.945 mph, 49.739 seconds

18. Dean Thompson, 180.723 mph, 49.800 seconds

19. Patrick Emerling, 180.697 mph, 49.807 seconds

20. Carson Hocevar, 180.607 mph, 49.832 seconds

21. Mason Maggio, 180.585 mph, 49.838 seconds

22. Jeb Burton, 180.534 mph, 49.852 seconds

23. Luke Fenhaus, 180.382 mph, 49.894 seconds

24. Harrison Burton, 180.332 mph, 49.908 seconds

25. Brennan Poole, 180.278 mph, 49.923 seconds

26. Caesar Bacarella, 180.260 mph, 49.928 seconds

27. Parker Retzlaff, 180.213 mph, 49.941 seconds

28. Nick Sanchez, 180.115 mph, 49.968 seconds

29. Jeremy Clements, 179.942 mph, 50.016 seconds

30. Austin Green, 179.781 mph, 50.061 seconds

31. Josh Williams, 179.734 mph, 50.074 seconds

32. Ryan Ellis, 179.702 mph, 50.083 seconds

33. Daniel Dye, 179.630 mph, 50.103 seconds

34. Josh Bilicki, 179.601 mph, 50.111 seconds

35. Natalie Decker, 179.154 mph, 50.236 seconds

36. Kyle Sieg, 179.104 mph, 50.250 seconds

37. Lavar Scott, 178.359 mph, 50.460 seconds

38. Carson Ware

The 2026 United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled to occur on Saturday, February 14, and air at 5 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio and SiriusXM.

TOYOTA RACING – NCS Daytona Quotes – Jimmie Johnson – 02.14.26

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Official Release
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Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

TOYOTA RACING – Jimmie Johnson
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 14, 2026) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB driver Jimmie Johnson was made available to the media on Saturday prior to the Daytona 500.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, No. 84 Carvana Toyota Camry XSE, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Can you tell us about your announcement?

“Yeah, just really excited to get this announcement out and build some excitement around the opportunity in (20)27. We had a great run here last year. I think we have a real shot at winning the Daytona 500 and putting my name on here again. But, I’m just thankful for the opportunity that’s been granted to me through my career. I didn’t use the word retirement way back when in 2020. I still love to compete and want to be on the track and racing. The journey as an owner, and certainly where I am in life right now, to compete at the Cup level, week in and week out, is just a door that’s shutting from here now. I’ll be able to enjoy it a bit more this year with the race this weekend and getting in San Diego, and then put a bow on everything, Cup wise, when we come back in (20)27. It doesn’t mean I’m not going to race and do other fun things, as you guys know, I’ve got plenty planned this year and hope to have some more fun later in the year as well, but a quick start to the year with this race. Also, the Mint 400 that’s coming up, and then the truck race in San Diego, and just trying to find, you know, fun bucket list things to do.”

How much will you celebrate your career achievements this year?

“Yeah, it definitely gives us that opportunity. We don’t have any formal plans, but I do know and I was very disappointed with the pandemic and the scenario of not being with the fans at the racetrack for that final year. It’s not that I’m looking for that now, but, you know, maybe there is a moment or two in there that we can, uh, have some fun with and kind of get back into that mindset a little bit and enjoy it. But I’m not going anywhere. Clearly, I have a big stake in LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and excited about the future for the company. Excited for all the time I will be spending inner sporting around it, and help grow it. So, we’ll see what the year brings, but I know it’ll be fun, and I know that next year here will be quite emotional to shut the door on that.”

As a driver, how conscious are you going to be because you are going through all of this for the last time?

“I have to say, the induction in the Hall of Fame was the moment in time that really allowed me to reflect, and I imagine this year will be more reflection, and certainly, when we come back here next year, that’ll happen again, but I’m now savoring and enjoying, the emotions, feelings, conversations, all the moments around the time I’ve spent in this sport and all the great times we had. So, there’ll be more of that, but as I look back, the Hall of Fame, first being nominated, which kind of knew that was coming (laughter), but the week, and all the events going into the Hall of Fame, it was just such a special time and it’s really opened the door to enjoy these emotions and reflecting and letting it in. So, I’m getting better at that and enjoying it, and, I know we’ll have another year of that.”

What do you take away from this chapter of your career?

“When I think of the 20 years or I spent probably 25 now, there’s been so much innovation, so much change, from the safety side, the technology, where we race, and how we race now, is technical, but an entirely new way. I feel very fortunate that I was in the generation where ingenuity and creativity really was allowed, and we can do that stuff. Chad (Knaus) was one of the best at it being a rule maker. He did break the rule a couple times, (laughter), but we were much more rule makers than anything. The innovation, and the journey, was really fun, and all the testing we were allowed to do. I can’t tell you how many times, at the end of a test session, he’d stick his head in the window and he’s like, I have no clue what this is going do, let’s tiptoe into this. He just always had some crazy ideas, and going on that journey with our engineering group, and developing all that technology, was really fun.”

Was there something specific about the Daytona 500 that made you want to make that your last race?

“No, it just made a lot of sense. I think as a driver that moonlights, the restrictor plate-tracks or that style of tracks is where you can be the most competitive. This car is so different than any generation of car I’ve driven before. To show up at Kansas and think that you’re going have a shot to win, even when I ran a 9-race schedule. It’s just not a truth that they can really be seen, or realized. Daytona, you can, Talladega, you can, Atlanta for sure. So, I want to show them being competitive, and to have my last race in an event where I could truly win – it could be that cool walk off home run.”

Is INDYCAR still a possibility on future races?

“No, that one’s closed too. The commitment it takes to be where I want to be in the field, I just, I don’t have that in me anymore. My focus and interest is truly building this race team. When I reflect on who I was is a 25 year old kid jumping in that 48 car – I was up at o dark 30 with this passion and energy to chase the day and do the best that I could.I don’t have that passion for that part of life anymore, and that’s been a tough thing to kind of accept, and if I’m honest with myself, maybe the last year or two of driving, I was in that phase, but I mean, I had the best seat in the house. I was almost in denial of, maybe what was going on, and it’s taken time. It took the two years in INDYCAR, and the journey that I’ve been on now to really reflect on that and see it. I mean, I had four hours of sleep last night, because we’re a sponsor event, and I was up all night doing emails, and then I was over at Home Depot this morning buying plants and furniture for our hospitality area and the driver owner lot, and that was fun. I mean, we had a great time this morning doing all that. I going to go over there and start putting chairs together. (laughter) So it’s just, I’m in a different place of life and really enjoying it.”

Would you be in your third chartered car or a fourth entry?

“It’d be a fourth.”

Is there a plan to promote everything you’ve done in the sport?

“No, that’s fair. I wasn’t as focused on brand on my legacy that I was leaving behind, and, I failed in that respect to take advantage of the moment when I was still in the car, and the next day in the car, and now where I sit in our evolution as a company, the intentionality around our name, the storytelling we plan to do as time goes on and what we want our brand to be about, gives me that chance to really put energy into it and treat that right, and hats off to the Earnhardt family and the Petty family for really carrying that on. Being famous or that part of it, and not that the others were, but I just, I didn’t pay any attention to it. I was in such a great system at Hendrick, and they did such an amazing job promoting me in the moment, that when I left, I just wasn’t prepared to keep that going, and I regret that I haven’t, but I still have time ahead of me, and obviously, deeply involved in the sport, and can do that now.”

Is there a planned focus for you to be a face of your team?

“Without a doubt. Yes, that is a big part of going forward. When I got involved with Maury (Gallagher), and we renamed the company, we were working in that direction, had some other things to focus on, more so at that point in time. Then our tragedy happened, and we chose to go to England and just have our time as a family. Then stayed a second year, and it was really an incredible year for our family to be together and grow and heal, and, we got back in August of (20) 25. Now that I have control of the company and a lot of other elements are in play, I can really lean into that. So, I was going get started a few years ago, but a little behind schedule, and we’ll do a lot more of that now.”

How did the Helmet to Heroes program come together?

“We have a great relationship with Pye-Barker and Bart Proctor, the CEO there. His support of John Hunter (Nemechek), and coming into LEGACY with us, and the growing friendship and understanding of their business has really led to this opportunity. As a kid, I wanted to be a fireman. That was so present around me growing up in Fire Country, my best friend, his father, was the captain of local fire department, and I just thought they were the coolest people ever, and so as we’ve been able to understand Bart’s business and the various points of interest in wanting to use the Daytona 500 as a platform to do good and raise awareness for a cause. When they brought it to us, it was a very easy yes and excited to represent the Fallen Firefighters Foundation. They’re going to take the helmet and auction it off, do something with it, but excited to draw that attention to them.”

Can you tell us about your collaboration with Joe Gibbs Racing this season?

“Yeah, it’s really just an evolution of how we can all work closer together in more alignment and closer together with Toyota, TRD. Toyota’s been very focused on small numbers, and tremendous support to the race teams. We’ve had a lot of growing to do as a company and did a lot of that last year, and through that evolution and building trust and respect, both directions and how to manage all of that, we’re at a great point in time where we’re shoulder, shoulder partners with them, and, all, of course, working for Toyota on this journey to win races and championships. We still have a lot of growing and maturing to do as a company, but, I’m confident it will be noticed this year as we get into the schedule and get racing, and I’m excited for the future, and how we can all collaborate more together.”

Do you get a passion about being a mentor for others at this point in your career?

“I do, and I wish that I had more experience in this car to directly help Erik (Jones) and John Hunter (Nemechek). I don’t necessarily for the car, but the outside parts in life, I love that. It is so rewarding, and something I’ve also really enjoyed was, and being the nucleus of a team, and getting people to work together – in my day, it was really about 15 to 20 people, just that road crew and a small group of the 48 team, and now it’s 140 men and women at LEGACY, and we’ll be growing as we bring on that third car and get closer to 200 employees, and it fills a bucket and gives me a lot of purpose and something I really enjoy.”

What other motorsport events are still on your bucket list?

“Man, anything with an engine. I was just with Marty (Smith) and (Ryan) McGee, and, McGee mentioned the Bonneville Salt Flats, and, I mean, I’ve never been. I mean, that’s something I should probably try to do, so I’m going figure out. I know our Toyota friends are here, so guys, what can we go break a speed record with? (laughter). Between Toyota and Carvana, they’re like, yes, great idea. Let’s go do that. So, we’re racing the Mint 400. I get to go back and go to my roots. Back to my roots and compete with Troy Herbst here in a handful of weeks. So excited about that one. But trying to find those marquee moments, those neat opportunities to go racing.”

Would you like to come back, do the Rolex 24, maybe 24 Hours of Le Mans?

“I would. I really, really would. I had an invite for Rolex. They come typically as a driver, those opportunities show up in December. People start looking around for drivers, and if I’m to do it, I need to plan in like July or something to pull that off. The off-season is just so busy for the team. We have so much expansion taking place that a very credible offer came my way. I had to sadly turn it down. I just didn’t have the bandwidth to do it, but I certainly would look at that. Definitely.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

2026 Niece Motorsports NCTS Race Recap: Daytona International Speedway

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Official Release
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NIECE MOTORSPORTS
NCTS RACE RECAP: DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Event: Fresh From Florida 250 (100 laps / 250 miles)
Round: 1 of 25 (Season Opener)
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date & Time: Friday, February 13 | 7:30 PM ET

No. 4 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Garrett Mitchell (Cleetus McFarland) | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett

Start: 12th
Stage 1: 37th
Stage 2: 37th
Finish: 37th
Driver Points: 31st
Owner Points: 37th

  • Key Takeaway: Garret Mitchell (Cleetus McFarland) didn’t get the finish he was hoping for in his highly anticipated Truck Series debut. McFarland was the fastest Niece Motorsports driver in qualifying, starting the race off in 12th-place. Early on, however, he lost control of the No. 4 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet off turn four and made hard contact with the inside SAFER barrier. With too much damage to continue the race, McFarland would end his night sitting 37th.
  • Cleetus McFarland’s Post-Race Thoughts:
    Interviewer: Cleetus, what sensation was the truck giving you?
    “Well, the sensation was incredible. We were three wide, which was insane from the start. It was immediately three wide, which I wasn’t expecting, and it was insane. I mean, I was literally having the time of my life again, and I just did not check myself before I wrecked myself right there. I got loose coming out of turn four when I was flying, and I put too much wheel into it because I was getting a little tight because we’re freaking three wide on the second lap. I think I only made it seven laps. I was a little tight and I was just trying not to hit the guy on the outside, came off turn four flattened out, the truck sat down, I think I had too much wheel in it, and just started getting loose.

I went right towards the field and I’m like, ‘damn, I’m about to wreck 30 race cars’, and I overcorrected like an idiot. That’s something Biff did not teach me right there. I went left and put myself on a trajectory to slam into the wall and wreck the truck, and now here I stand in the worst spot to do an interview in the entire Daytona International Speedway.”

Interviewer: Well, on a bit of a lighter note, I talked to you in pre-race, and you said that Carson Hocevar had given you some advice.
“Yeah, I mean, Carson told me that if I caused the wreck, I would usually not be in the wreck. But in this particular instance, I caused the wreck and was the only one to wreck. So, I’m starting to question Carson’s advice on whether or not I should be listening to him. But, he did win the stage, so that’s pretty sweet.

Interviewer: Welcome to the Truck Series.
“Yeah, and I want to say thanks to Black Rifle Coffee Company, Niece Motorsports, and BRUNT Workwear for sponsoring me. I’m an idiot, wrecked the truck in seven laps, and that sucks. Thanks to everyone that tuned in.”

About Black Rifle Coffee Company: Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) is a Veteran-founded coffee company serving premium coffee to people who love America. Founded in 2014 by Green Beret Evan Hafer, Black Rifle develops their explosive roast profiles with the same mission focus they learned while serving in the military. BRCC is committed to supporting Veterans, active-duty military, first responders and the American way of life. To learn more about BRCC, visit www.blackriflecoffee.com

No. 42 BRUNT Workwear Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Travis Pastrana | Crew Chief: Landon Polinski

Start: 13th
Stage 1: 29th
Stage 2: 23rd
Finish: 15th
Driver Points: 14th
Owner Points: 17th

  • Key Takeaway: Travis Pastrana and the No. 42 BRUNT Workwear team had a solid night in Daytona. In his first NASCAR race in three years, Pastrana kept his truck clean and ran in the lead pack throughout the race. Despite some close calls, Pastrana was able to capitalize on late-race shakeups to come across the line in 15th-place.
  • Travis Pastrana’s Post-Race Thoughts:

Interviewer: 15th-place run for Travis Pastrana; it was an act of survival.
“Act of survival, for sure. I think we played it maybe a little too cautiously. We had a good run, and I followed my teammate. We had the No. 44 and No. 45 right there, and Stenhouse made his way around that chaos on that next-to-last lap. I hesitated just for a split second, and they would just fly by. It’s a little disappointing; I think we had such a great truck. It was awesome. Thanks to Niece Motorsports, and huge thanks to BRUNT Workwear and Black Rifle Coffee Company. I had a blast. I would have liked to just gone up there, because I think we would have had a chance to lead a lap and play the strategies at the end, but it would have been fun to be up front.”

Interviewer: How did it feel to get back behind the wheel of a NASCAR truck?
“It was awesome, and everything was just wild coming off of turn four there. Like, the first time it steps out and you’re correcting, you’re like ‘woah, alright, the tires are wearing out and it’s game on right now’. Then, you see three wide and everyone’s stepping out. It got pretty good.”

About BRUNT Workwear: Launched in 2020, BRUNT Workwear is retooling the way the workwear industry works by collaborating with trade workers to develop boots and apparel that provide the best performance, durability and comfort hard-earned money can buy. BRUNT products are developed to provide solutions that make real workers’ lives easier, a mission brought to life by the fact that each signature product is named after a real worker who inspired the design. BRUNT’s workwear lineup includes a range of waterproof, safety toe, and breathable boots for every worker, as well as a broad selection of apparel and accessories that are built to deliver performance and comfort on the job.

No. 44 Acceptance Insurance Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Andrés Pérez de Lara | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers

Start: 28th
Stage 1: 14th
Stage 2: 17th
Finish: 13th
Driver Points: 11th
Owner Points: 14th

  • Key Takeaway: Andrés Pérez de Lara and the No. 44 Acceptance Insurance team made some headway in the season opening race at Daytona. Pérez de Lara started deep in the field but methodically worked his way to the front in the draft. With a handful of laps remaining, the No. 44 truck was inside the top-10, but fell back a bit on the white flag lap to finish the race in 13th..
  • Andrés Pérez de Lara’s Post-Race Thoughts: “I think we’ve got to be happy with our result tonight. Obviously, leaving with a clean truck in Daytona is a sign of a good night. We were there and I learned a lot. I wish we could have ended just a couple spots better, but it was a good performance overall for the whole Acceptance Insurance team. We executed like we needed, and will be stronger for the next ones with the experience we’re getting and the speed we’re showing.”

About Acceptance Insurance: Acceptance Insurance is a proud member of Confie, the largest personal lines agency in the U.S. We believe in investing in the communities we serve by offering affordable insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Our agents and team members uphold our values, which include promoting excellence, responsibility and caring.

Acceptance has been in business for over 50 years. We have over 700 agents in over 288 neighborhood locations ready to give you the service, respect and savings you deserve. We come to you so you can find the solutions you need, regardless of your background and driving record. We offer easy solutions to meet your unique needs.

No. 45 J.F. Electric Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Crew Chief: Phil Gould

Start: 17th
Stage 1: 13th
Stage 2: 13th
Finish: 27th
Driver Points: 22nd
Owner Points: 13th

  • Key Takeaway: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 45 J.F. Electric team started the season off on a great foot with a top-10 finish. In his Truck Series debut, Stenhouse Jr. ran a methodical race and avoided trouble to stay in the hunt. As the event neared the checkered flag, Stenhouse Jr. pushed his way to the front. The past Daytona 500 champion finished the night in sixth-place.
  • Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s Post-Race Thoughts: “Well, watching the replay of that finish, there were a couple things I could have done differently. I just didn’t know the Fords were coming that quick, and I didn’t think I could win from that position, so my initial thought was to push the No. 91 (Christian Eckes) to the win since he was in another Chevy. I didn’t realize that they were lined up in front of him. If I could have the last turn three-to-the-start-finish-line a little different, I would.

But, I was happy to be in that position with our J.F. Electric Chevrolet because throughout the race, I didn’t feel like we had the speed that I wanted, and we were lacking a little bit of handling. I just talked to Phil and we are going to work on Atlanta. I’m very happy that we brought it back home in one piece in a truck race in Daytona, and we were in the picture at the line. All-in-all, good day.”

About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2016. The team is owned by Josh Morris of DQS Solutions and Staffing and the Fowler Family of J.F. Electric and Utilitra, and was founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a full-service race vehicle build shop as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.

Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).

Jimmie Johnson Announces Final Cup Series Start

By
Official Release
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Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 14, 2026) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB owner Jimmie Johnson, one of the most accomplished athletes in motorsports history, announced today the 2027 DAYTONA 500 will mark the final start of his NASCAR Cup Series career.

Johnson’s record-breaking career ranks among one of the greatest sports stories ever told: 83 NASCAR Cup Series victories, seven Cup Series championships — tied for the most in series history — and 19 consecutive full-time seasons competing at the highest level of stock car racing. In 2024, he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Johnson stepped away from full-time competition at the conclusion of the 2020 season to focus on family and new business ventures. Forever a racer at heart, he continued to compete, checking off his personal bucket list by running two seasons in the INDYCAR Series. He was named the 2022 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and competed in notable events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and even piloted an Unlimited Hydroplane across Lake Washington at Seafair.

After becoming a principal owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB in 2022, Johnson competed in select events for the CLUB while simultaneously building the future of the team. His best result for the CLUB as a driver was a podium finish in the 2025 DAYTONA 500. This season, Johnson will compete in two event weekends – Daytona and NASCAR San Diego.

“Next February, I’ll make my final start in the Cup Series at Daytona,” the two-time DAYTONA 500 champion said. “I’ve been very fortunate to accomplish more than I ever imagined in this sport. The last six years have given me the freedom to choose where I compete and more importantly, the clarity to understand where I’m needed most. It’s time to focus my energy on building a world class and unrivaled organization in LEGACY MOTOR CLUB.”

While Johnson will retire from NASCAR Cup Series competition following the 2027 DAYTONA 500, he is not closing the door entirely on racing altogether – and remains open to competing in other series, divisions, or forms of motorsport should unique opportunities arise.

“As a team owner, I need to be on the sidelines on race day supporting our drivers and crews on the competition side and cultivating relationships that are crucial to the long-term growth of the CLUB,” Johnson continued. “I also want to take the time to celebrate with fans throughout the season to show how grateful I am for their support throughout my career.”

What was to be a year of celebration, the global pandemic prevented a meaningful farewell for his fans during that final season. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is committed to honoring Johnson’s final Cup start in a way that reflects the impact of his racing career and the fans who have supported him along the way.

Additional plans to celebrate Johnson’s LEGACY will be shared in the near future.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a premier auto racing organization owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.

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