Chandler Smith bolts to thrilling Truck opener victory at Daytona

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February 13, 2026

20260213224539-4fc05fd6-me — Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Chandler Smith went from third to sixth and first in a single lap. In the end, it was enough for him to boost his way to a thrilling victory in the Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 13.

The 23-year-old Smith from Talking Rock, Georgia, led twice for eight of 102 over-scheduled laps in an event where he started 10th and managed to keep his No. 38 TrophyCatch Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150 entry intact amid a stacked field of all-star competitors, newcomers, and familiar names on the grid.

No. 38 Ford F-150 — Photo by Mike Biskupski for SpeedwayMedia.com

During an overtime shootout, Smith, who captured the second stage victory and restarted in eighth place, navigated his way to third place prior to the start of the final lap. Despite being overtaken by three trucks and dropping to sixth place for half a lap, he received a draft from Ford teammate and pole-sitter Ty Majeski to reel in on the front-runners that consisted of John Hunter Nemechek, Giovanni Ruggiero, and Christian Eckes entering the frontstretch.

With Nemechek, Ruggiero, and Eckes all fanning out and trying to side-draft against one another to gain the upper hand, the trio left the inside lane wide enough for Smith and Majeski to make their move. As Majeski continued to draft Smith, Smith had enough room to zip by and secure a thrilling victory at Daytona to start the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, Ty Majeski secured the pole position with a pole-winning lap at 176.883 mph in 50.881 seconds. Michael McDowell started alongside Majeski on the front row after the latter clocked in his fastest qualifying lap at 176.682 mph in 50.939 seconds.

When the green flag waved and the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series season commenced, Michael McDowell received a push from teammate Carson Hocevar on the outside lane. This allowed both McDowell and Hocevar to rocket ahead of Majeski, with both transitioning to the inside lane and assuming command through the first two lanes. As the field fanned out to three-packed lanes from the backstretch to the frontstretch, McDowell cycled through and led the first lap.

During the second lap and as the field continued to jostle amid three-wide action within the pack, Hocevar made a bold move beneath teammate McDowell through the frontstretch. Both McDowell and Hocevar proceeded to duel for the lead in front of the pack over the next two laps before Majeski shoved McDowell ahead of Hocevar exiting the backstretch prior to the fourth lap.

Then on the fifth lap, the event’s first caution flew when Cleetus McFarland, who was racing in 10th place and amid three-wide action, briefly got loose exiting Turns 3 and 4 while racing in front of Giovanni Ruggiero. Despite trying to keep his truck straight, he ended up swerving and spinning to the bottom of the track before he hit the inside wall towards the pit road entrance on the driver’s left side at full speed. The damage to the left side of McFarland’s truck was enough to terminate his debut early, though the driver was able to emerge uninjured.

During the event’s first caution period, some, including John Hunter Nemechek, Chandler Smith, Layne Riggs, Taylor Gray, Nick Leitz, Daniel Hemric, and Tony Stewart, pitted their respective entries while the rest, led by McDowell, remained on the track.

The next restart on the 10th lap featured Hocevar muscling ahead of teammate McDowell after the former received a strong push from Tanner Gray entering the first two turns. Despite Hocevar gaining a slight advantage through the backstretch, McDowell muscled back alongside Hocevar and barely led the next lap from the outside lane. Amid McDowell’s charge with drafting help from Majeski, Hocevar managed to emerge ahead from the inside lane while the rest of the field fanned out to three-packed lanes.

Through the Lap 15 mark, McDowell retained the lead by a narrow margin over teammate Hocevar while Majeksi, Tanner Gray, Kaden Honeycutt, Grant Enfinger, Brenden Queen, Jake Garcia, John Hunter Nemechek, and Christian Eckes were scored in the top 10, respectively. Behind, Taylor Gray, Tyler Ankrum, Justin Haley, Giovanni Ruggiero, Cole Butcher, Ben Rhodes, Stewart Friesen, Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, and Andres Perez De Lara occupied the top-20 spots, respectively, while notables that include Tony Stewart, Chandler Smith, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Mini Tyrrell trailed in 22nd, 24th, 26th, and 29th, respectively.

When the first stage period concluded on Lap 20, Hocevar edged a hard-charging Tanner Gray by his front splitter to capture the first Truck stage victory of the 2026 season. Gray and Eckes, the latter of whom had also made a late surge approaching the start/finish line, settled in second and third while Nemechek, McDowell, Honeycutt, Majeski, Taylor Gray, Queen, and Enfinger were scored in the top 10, respectively.

Under the event’s first stage break period, a majority of the field, led by Tanner Gray and Hocevar, pitted while the rest, led by Nemechek, including those who pitted during the first caution period, remained on the track.

The second stage period started on Lap 27 as Nemechek and Hemric occupied the front row. At the front, Taylor Gray quickly drafted Nemechek ahead of Hemric from the outside lane entering the first two turns. Nemechek, along with Taylor Gray, Ankrum, and Nick Leitz, powered ahead of Hemric through the backstretch before the rest of the field quickly caught back up to the front-runners. As the field stacked up amid three-wide action, Nemechek led the next lap before he got shuffled back. In the process, Hocevar and Gray battled dead even for the lead in front of the pack.

At the Lap 30 mark, Hocevar was leading the outside lane as he had a bevy of competitors, including teammate McDowell, drafting him while Taylor Gray, who had several competitors, including teammate Leitz, drafting him, leading the inside lane. With a majority of the field racing in two-packed lanes, a handful of competitors racing in the mid-pack region were slowly experimenting with forming a third drafting lane. Amid the action, Hocevar retained the lead while Hemric pitted under green after he was black-flagged for needing to have his spoiler bracket fixed.

Then on Lap 35, the caution flew when Jake Garcia, who was racing in the middle of the pack and towards the top-15 mark, got loose, shot up the track and collided into Tony Stewart against the outside wall entering the frontstretch. The rest of the field steered left to avoid the carnage as both Garcia and Stewart limped around the track with damaged trucks. The latter two managed to continue despite being lapped due to repairs made to their respective entries, but Stewart eventually retired in 36th place.

The latest caution was enough for the event’s second stage period scheduled to conclude on Lap 40 to officially conclude under caution. As a result, Chandler Smith, who navigated his way to the lead on Lap 34, claimed the stage victory. Teammate Layne Riggs, who also drafted his way to the front with teammate Smith, settled in second while Majeski, Taylor Gray, McDowell, Leitz, Eckes, Nemechek, Corey LaJoie and Rhodes were scored in the top 10, respectively.

During the event’s second stage break period, nearly the entire field led by Chandler Smith pitted while the rest, which included Travis Pastrana, Spencer Boyd, Mini Tyrrell, Josh Reaume, Jason Kitzmiller, and Frankie Muniz, remained on the track. The latter competitors who opted to remain on the track for a lap pitted during the next. As a result, and amid the shuffling of the leaderboard following the pit stops, Leitz cycled to the lead.

With 55 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Leitz and Majeski occupied the front row. At the start, Leitz and Majeski dueled in front of the field through the first two turns. As the field scattered and tried to fan out through the backstretch, Majeski muscled ahead from the inside lane, and he led the following lap. Shortly after, the field fanned out to four lanes as Leitz was drifting to the rear of the field with no drafting help. Meanwhile, Majeski led a long line of competitors racing towards the inside lane as he had Stenhouse, Riggs, Perez De Lara, Rhodes, Cole Butcher, and Ankrum followed suit, respectively.

At the halfway mark with 50 laps remaining, Majeski continued to lead Stenhouse and a stacked field racing amid two-packed lanes. By then, Nemechek, who was leading the outside lane, had Hocevar drafting him as he began to mount a charge against Majeski for the lead. Both Majeski and Nemechek dueled for the lead through the frontstretch during the next lap before Hocevar, who drafted Nemechek from the outside lane, made a bold crossover move beneath Nemechek to storm to the lead through the first two turns the lap after.

Then with 42 laps remaining, the caution flew due to Hocevar spinning at the bottom of the track in Turn 4. Hocevar’s incident started when the leader quickly dropped off the pace as he had a flat left-rear wheel. As Hocevar was wiggling his truck to keep it straight, the rest of the field fanned out to avoid hitting Hocevar, the latter of whom was pinned in the middle lane. Despite keeping his truck straight through the backstretch and Turns 3 and 4 with the flat tire, Hocevar then lost control and spun. Despite flattening both of his rear tires, he was dodged by the field, and he managed to pit.

During the latest caution period, the entire field led by Nemechek pitted, primarily for fuel. Following the pit stops and as the field cycled through, Haley emerged as the leader.

As the event restarted under green with 37 laps remaining, the top-four competitors that included Haley, Tanner Gray, LaJoie, and Rhodes quickly bolted away from the field through the first two turns. The rest of the field, however, quickly formed in a tight pack amid the draft and caught back up to the top-four competitors through Turns 3 and 4. By the time the field cycled back to the fronstretch, Gray led the next lap.

Down to the final 30 laps of the event, Haley, who was briefly shuffled out of the lead draft but navigated back to the lead five laps earlier, was leading both the event and a parade of competitors racing in single-line formation towards the outside wall. Tanner Gray, Nemechek, Ruggiero, and Majeski followed suit in the top five while Queen, Taylor Gray, LaJoie, Ankrum, and Enfinger were scored in the top 10. Behind, Eckes, Perez De Lara, McDowell, Dawson Sutton, Riggs, Leitz, Butcher, Friesen, Daniel Dye and Honeycutt occupied the top-20 spots just before Enfinger, who was racing in the top 10, dropped off the pace due to cutting a right-rear tire. Despite the tire carcass coming off of Enfinger’s entry and rolling towards the backstretch’s infield, the event remained under green.

With 27 laps remaining, Riggs, who was racing within the top-15 mark, dropped off the pace due to cutting a left-front tire and smacking the outside wall. Riggs’ incident was a result of making contact with Ankrum as the field got bunched up while trying to navigate past the lapped competitor of Jason White. A few laps earlier, Jason Kitzmiller dropped off the pace to the track’s apron. Amid both actions, the event continued to occur under green-flag conditions as Haley led Tanner Gray, Nemechek, Ruggiero, and Majeski, respectively.

With 21 remaining, the caution flew when Hocevar spun for a second time, this latest time occurred through the frontstretch due to cutting a left-rear tire. During the caution, some including Eckes, Ankrum, LaJoie, Clay Greenfield, Dawson Sutton, Spencer Boyd, Rhodes, Pastrana and Muniz pitted while the rest led by Haley remained on the track.

The next restart with 16 laps remaining featured Tanner Gray gaining a slight advantage over Haley with drafting help from Nemechek through the first two turns and the backstretch while the field behind fanned out to three lanes. As the on-track intensity began to crescendo and the field getting stacked up towards the front, Gray maintained the lead over Nemechek and Ruggiero while Haley and Taylor Gray followed suit during the next lap.

Then, with 13 laps remaining, Hocevar spun for a third time entering the frontstretch after he was tagged by Cole Butcher. Amid his spin through the apron, Hocevar managed to limp his truck to pit road and the event remained under green flag conditions. By then, Tanner Gray continued to lead Nemechek, Ruggiero, Haley, Taylor Gray and the rest of the field. As Eckes aggressively navigated his way towards the front, he drew even with Tanner Gray for the lead with 10 laps remaining.

With five laps remaining, McDowell, who returned atop the leaderboard two laps earlier, was leading in front of Honeycutt, Heim and the rest of the field that had repeatedly shuffled the leaderboard over the previous five laps. Shortly after, the caution flew when Taylor Gray, Sutton and Boyd all spun to the bottom of the track in Turn 4, an incident that started when Gray got sideways in front of of Majeski and came across the path of both Sutton and Boyd while Mini Tyrrell smacked the outside wall while avoiding the carnage.

During the caution period and with fuel concerns intensifying, select names that included teammates Queen and Daniel Dye along with Josh Reaume pitted while the rest led by McDowell remained on the track.

When the event restarted in overtime, McDowell and Honeycutt dueled exiting the frontstretch as Honeycutt received a push from teammate Ruggiero to boost ahead of McDowell from the outside lane through the first two turns. Then, Honeycutt and Ruggiero became separated through the backstretch. This allowed McDowell to receive a bump from Nemechek and reel in Honeycutt before Ruggiero charged right back to the rear bumper of Honeycutt through Turns 3 and 4. In the latter two turns, McDowell was overtaken by Nemechek and slipped sideways after bumping into Nemechek. He then spun to the bottom of the track, exiting Turn 4. Kris Wright also spun while swerving to avoid McDowell, but the event remained under green flag conditions.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Honeycutt remained in the lead ahead of Ruggiero, Chandler Smith and the rest of the field that was trying to mount a final-lap charge to the front. Through the first two turns and the first half of the backstretch, Nemechek and Eckes drafted past Smith as they reeled in on Ruggiero and Honeycutt. Nemechek then nearly turned Ruggiero, but the latter managed to keep his truck straight despite going off the track. In the process, Nemechek and Eckes bolted past Honeycutt and Ruggiero as Nemechek led entering Turns 3 and 4.

Then, entering the frontstretch, Ruggiero got beneath Eckes. He reeled in on Nemechek’s rear bumper as Smith, Stenhouse, and Majeski were in a tight six-truck battle for the lead. Ruggiero feigned a move beneath Nemechek before he steered to the right to draw even with Nemechek. Eckes also went to the right of Ruggiero as the latter two, with Nemechek, went three wide approaching the finish line. It was at that moment that Smith received a draft from Majeski to go beneath and overtake Nemechek, Ruggiero, and Eckes to win the event.

With the victory, Chandler Smith became the 23rd competitor overall to win a Truck race at Daytona International Speedway. The Georgian also achieved his eighth career win in the Truck division, his first since he won at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May 2025 and his third driving the No. 38 Ford F-150 entry for Front Row Motorsports.

Smith’s first victory at Daytona marked the 16th Truck career victory for Front Row Motorsports and the organization’s third in the series at Daytona. In addition, the Ford nameplate racked up its ninth win at Daytona.

The victory served as a redemptive moment for Smith, who did not qualify for the NASCAR Cup Series’ Daytona 500 for a third time in four years. Nevertheless, an elated Smith, who is setting his sights on campaigning for this year’s Truck Series championship, celebrated with his pit crew on the frontstretch.

“I was surprised [Nemechek] didn’t block [my run],” Smith said on FS1. “The seas literally just parted, and [Majeski] stayed committed to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ty Majeski. [I] Definitely got to owe you one on that one.”

“[I’m] Super, super grateful for everybody on this No. 38 Ford F-150 group,” Smith added. “We made some changes on the off season. I felt like last year, everybody for the most part, knows how this No. 38 group came together last year, but we built on it and made this group so much better for this year. I’m so excited for 2026.”

Behind Chandler Smith, Giovanni Ruggiero settled in second place for a second consecutive year at Daytona. Christian Eckes and Ty Majeski finished third and fourth, respectively, while John Hunter Nemechek fell back to fifth place. All of the top-five finishers were separated by 0.069 seconds.

“[The battle] was tight there at the end of the race,” Ruggiero said. “Everybody’s just trying to do whatever it takes to win, and that’s what I did for myself and my team. Probably would’ve pushed John Hunter [Nemechek] to the win there, but he almost wrecked me twice. I think overall as a group, we need to do better as Toyotas. I thought me and Tanner [Gray] and Taylor [Gray] worked together really well. Everybody else, it seemed like they were out there on their own. I definitely think we learned some things going into the next superspeedway [event].”

“I’m pretty frustrated with myself, “Nemechek said. “It’s just hard to cover all the lanes there. I should’ve got to the middle and block [Ruggiero] a little bit faster than I did. [I] Didn’t anticipate [the result] quite like I probably should have off of Turn 4. Overall, a really fun race. I’m just dejected we didn’t come home with the checkered flag.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished in sixth place in his Truck Series debut while rookie Brenden Queen, Kaden Honeycutt, Tyler Ankrum, and Stewart Friesen completed the top 10 in the final running order.

The 2026 season opener at Daytona featured 32 lead changes for 12 different leaders, and six cautions for 31 laps. In addition, 23 of 37 starters finished on the lead lap.

Following the first event of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, Chandler Smith leads the standings by 19 points over Christian Eckes, 20 over Ty Majeski, 30 over Giovanni Ruggiero, and 31 over Kaden Honeycutt.

Results:

1. Chandler Smith, eight laps led, Stage 2 winner
2. Giovanni Ruggiero
3. Christian Eckes, one lap led
4. Ty Majeski, five laps led
5. John Hunter Nemechek, 10 laps led
6. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
7. Brenden Queen
8. Kaden Honeycutt, one lap led
9. Tyler Ankrum
10. Stewart Friesen
11. Nick Leitz, three laps led
12. Ben Rhodes
13. Andres Perez De Lara
14. Cole Butcher
15. Travis Pastrana, one lap led
16. Frankie Muniz
17. Daniel Dye
18. Clay Greenfield
19. Mini Tyrrell
20. Josh Reaume
21. Spencer Boyd
22. Justin Haley, 20 laps led
23. Tanner Gray, 11 laps led
24. Michael McDowell, one lap down, 20 laps led
25. Kris Wright, one lap down
26. Daniel Hemric, one lap down
27. Dawson Sutton, one lap down
28. Taylor Gray, one lap down
29. Grant Enfinger, two laps down
30. Jason Kitzmiller, two laps down
31. Layne Riggs, four laps down, two laps led
32. Jake Garcia, four laps down
33. Jason White, four laps down
34. Corey LaJoie – OUT, Engine
35. Carson Hocevar – OUT, Suspension, Stage 1 winner, 20 laps led
36. Tony Stewart – OUT, Accident
37. Cleetus McFarland – OUT, Accident

With the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season underway, the next event on the schedule is EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, for the Fr8 Racing 208. The event is set for Saturday, February 21, at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM.

Ty Majeski speeds to Truck opener pole at Daytona

By

Andrew Kim

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February 13, 2026

20250804221149-d5c72964-me — Photo by Adam Lovelace for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Ty Majeski capitalized in his first laps piloting the iconic No. 88 Menards/ThoSport Racing Ford F-150 entry by capturing the pole position for the Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 13.

The event’s qualifying format consisted of two single-truck qualifying rounds. In the first round, each of the 44 competitors entered to bid for 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 first qualifying round, Majeski, the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion from Seymour, Wisconsin, posted the fastest lap at 176.675 mph in 51.941 seconds. As a result, he was one of 10 competitors to transfer to the final round. In the latest round, he utilized his speed from the first session to knock Michael McDowell off the top of the qualifying chart and wrap up the pole with a pole-winning lap at 176.883 mph in 50.881 seconds.

With the pole, Majeski notched his 12th Truck Series career pole, his third at Daytona and his first since the 2023 championship event at Phoenix Raceway, the latter of which was where he proceeded to win his first series title.

The 2026 Truck Series season is scheduled to mark Majeski’s fifth consecutive full-time campaign in the series and first piloting the No. 88 Ford F-150 entry for ThorSport Racing, with Majeski assuming the entry over the retired three-time series champion Matt Crafton. As Majeski prepares to commence his pursuit of a second series title, he will first pursue his first series’ victory at Daytona on Friday night to commence the 2026 racing season.

Majeski will share the front row with Michael McDowell, the latter of whom is piloting the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado RST entry for Spire Motorsports. McDowell, the 2021 Daytona 500 champion from Glendale, Arizona, was the second-highest qualifier following the first session at 176.554 mph in 50.976 seconds. His time during the final session was 50.939 seconds at 176.682 mph.

Tanner Gray, Carson Hocevar and Grant Enfinger qualified in the top five, respectively. Tyler Ankrum, Kaden Honeycutt, Jake Garcia, Giovanni Ruggiero and Chandler Smith, all of whom transferred to the final qualifying session, completed the top-10 starting spots.

Notably, the following drivers, including, Christian Eckes, Cleetus Mitchell, Travis Pastrana, Taylor Gray, Tony Stewart, Justin Haley, Corey LaJoie, John Hunter Nemechek, Brenden Queen, Stewart Friesen, Ben Rhodes, Andres Perez De Lara, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Daniel Hemric, Frankie Muniz and Layne Riggs will start 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, 27th, 28th, 30th, 32nd and 35th, respectively.

Despite not qualifying inside the top-36 mark, Mini Tyrrell, winner of Kaulig Racing’s ‘Race For the Seat’ reality show, was granted an OEM RAM provisional that will enable him to start the Daytona opener at the tail end of the field in 37th place.

Meanwhile, the remaining competitors that included Bryan Dauzat, Timmy Hill, Justin Carroll, Tyler Tomassi, Norm Begnning, Toni Breidinger and Greg Van Alst did not qualify for the main event.

Qualifying position, Best speed, Best time:

1. Ty Majeski, 176.883 mph, 50.881 seconds

2. Michael McDowell, 176.682 mph, 50.939 seconds

3. Tanner Gray, 176.215 mph, 51.074 seconds

4. Carson Hocevar, 176.084 mph, 51.112 seconds

5. Grant Enfinger, 175.891 mph, 51.168 seconds

6. Tyler Ankrum, 175.860 mph, 51.177 seconds

7. Kaden Honeycutt, 175.682 mph, 51.229 seconds

8. Jake Garcia, 175.562 mph, 51.264 seconds

9. Giovanni Ruggiero, 175.490 mph, 51.285 seconds

10. Chandler Smith, 175.380 mph, 51.317 seconds

11. Christian Eckes, 174.910 mph, 51.455 seconds

12. Cleetus Mitchell, 174.897 mph, 51.459 seconds

13. Travis Pastrana, 174.798 mph, 51.488 seconds

14. Taylor Gray, 174.730 mph, 51.508 seconds

15. Tony Stewart, 174.693 mph, 51.519 seconds

16. Justin Haley, 174.608 mph, 51.544 seconds

17. Clay Greenfield, 174.561 mph, 51.558 seconds

18. Corey LaJoie, 174.557 mph, 51.559 seconds

19. John Hunter Nemechek, 174.466 mph, 51.586 seconds

20. Dawson Sutton, 174.395 mph, 51.607 seconds

21. Jason Kitzmiller, 174.381 mph, 51.611 seconds

22. Brenden Queen, 174.371 mph, 51.614 seconds

23. Cole Butcher, 174.273 mph, 51.643 seconds

24. Stewart Friesen, 174.203 mph, 51.664 seconds

25. Nick Leitz, 174.169 mph, 51.674 seconds

26. Kris Wright, 174.034 mph, 51.714 seconds

27. Ben Rhodes, 174.017 mph, 51.719 seconds

28. Andres Perez De Lara, 173.910 mph, 51.751 seconds

29. Josh Reaume, 173.906 mph, 51.752 seconds

30. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 173.792 mph, 51.786 seconds

31. Daniel Dye, 173.782 mph, 51.789 seconds

32. Daniel Hemric, 173.541 mph, 51.861 seconds

33. Frankie Muniz, 173.534 mph, 51.863 seconds

34. Spencer Boyd, 173.494 mph, 51.875 seconds

35. Layne Riggs, 173.094 mph, 51.955 seconds

36. Jason White, 173.004 mph, 52.022 seconds

*37. Mini Tyrrell, 173.712 mph, 51.810 seconds (Provisional Used)

The 2026 Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled to occur on Friday, February 13, and air at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.

ARCA Menards Series at Daytona International Speedway: General Tire 200 Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Qualifying Notes

By

Official Release

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February 13, 2026

Gus Dean (No. 25 CAB Installers / IMPACT Toyota) earned the pole for Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series General Tire 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Dean turned a lap of 49.133 seconds / 183.176 miles per hour to earn his third career series pole and first since the Illinois State Fairgrounds in 2018. Dean will be looking for his second Daytona win in three seasons on Saturday; he also won at Daytona in 2024.
Dean’s Nitro Motorsports teammate Isabella Robusto (No. 5 Mobil 1 Toyota) will start alongside on the front row after turning in a lap at 49.191 seconds / 182.960 miles per hour. It’s her third career front row start; she earned her first career series pole at Kansas Speedway in 2024 and started second last summer at Michigan International Speedway.
Robusto’s second-place qualifying effort is the best for a female driver in the ARCA Menards Series at Daytona International Speedway since Gracie Trotter started second in 2021.
Hometown hero Daniel Dye (No. 24 Champion Container Ford) qualified third in his first ARCA Menards Series start since 2022. Dye finished 21st in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona in 2025; he finished third in his only ARCA Menards Series start at Daytona in 2022. Sean Corr (No. 8 Nesco / STS / The Trans Group Chevrolet), the 2012 Daytona pole winner, set an identical speed and will start alongside in fourth.
Garrett Mitchell (No. 30 Kenetik Ford), known to his fans as Cleetus McFarland, qualified fifth, with Canadian Derek White (No. 66 MBM Motorsports Ford) in sixth. Bobby Earnhardt (No. 89 SmartGrid Integrations Chevrolet), Timothy “Mini” Tyrrell (No. 17 RAM Trucks Chevrolet), Gio Ruggiero (No. 18 1st Auto Group Toyota) and Robbie Kennealy (No. 41 Jan’s Towing Ford) rounded out the top ten in qualifying.
Jake Bollman (No. 20 SynerFuse Toyota) and Jason Kitzmiller (No. 97 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet) both had their times disallowed for being low across the height sticks after qualifying. Both took provisionals and will start the race in row 17.
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.

NHRA AND FOX SPORTS ANNOUNCE TV SCHEDULE FOR NHRA’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY SEASO

By

Official Release

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February 13, 2026

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 13, 2026) – Coming off a standout season that included the most-watched race in NHRA history, NHRA officials and FOX Sports released the television schedule for the upcoming 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, a year that also celebrates NHRA’s 75th anniversary.

All 20 races, along with the NHRA All-Star Callout events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, and the GETTRX NHRA All-Star Callout races in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, will be broadcast on either FOX or FS1, as well as the FOX One app, during the milestone 2026 campaign.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season opens March 5-8 with the 57th annual Amalie NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway. The race includes the Right Trailers NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout, which will be broadcast live at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 7 on FS1.

Live eliminations from the season-opener will air from 12-3 p.m. ET. It is one of several ideal timeslots that serve as a lead-in or lead-out with additional motorsports programming.

For the sixth straight season, an event in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs will also air on FOX adjacent to a professional football broadcast, presenting another huge potential audience during the NHRA playoffs. This past season, NHRA scored its most-watched telecast on record during the Texas NHRA FallNationals, drawing an average of 2.065 million viewers on FOX for Sunday’s eliminations coverage from Texas Motorplex.

That will close out races airing on the FOX broadcast network, following a spring and summer filled with incredible racing action. Races currently scheduled to appear on FOX include the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway (May 31), the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway (June 7), the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park (June 28) and the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals from Pacific Raceways (July 26).

The world’s biggest drag race, the prestigious 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, which takes place Sept. 2-7 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, will air on both FOX and FS1, including eliminations on FOX on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. In 2025, finals coverage from The Big Go drew 1.036 million viewers, marking the most-viewed live U.S. Nationals telecast in NHRA history

The NHRA and FOX relationship began in 2016, and NHRA and FOX Sports announced a multiyear extension of their agreement in 2021, including expanded coverage, the professional football adjacent event during the Countdown to the Championship, and extensive finals coverage at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals over Labor Day Weekend each year. The partnership has also led to numerous innovations on the broadcast in recent years, with the NHRA on FOX team collecting numerous Telly awards in 2025.

FOX Sports and NHRA are also scheduling NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series broadcasts, as well as shows featuring the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series across the FOX Sports networks.

NHRA races will also appear in Canada and the Caribbean through FOX Sports Racing as well, as well as through the FOX One app.

For more information on NHRA, including the full 2026 schedule, please visit www.NHRA.com.

2026 NHRA on FOX Sports Television Schedule (all times Eastern)

March 7	Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout	Gainesville	4 PM	FS1
March 8	Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals	Gainesville	12 PM	FS1
March 22	FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals	Phoenix	6:30 PM	FS1
April 12	Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals	Pomona	6:30 PM	FS1
April 26	NHRA 4-Wide Nationals	Charlotte	7 PM	FS1
May 3	NHRA Southern Nationals	SGMP	7 PM	FS1
May 17	Gerber Collison & Glass NHRA Nationals	Chicago	5 PM	FS1
May 31	NHRA Potomac Nationals	MIR	3 PM	FOX
June 7	NHRA New England Nationals	Epping	3 PM	FOX
June 14	Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals	Bristol	3 PM	FS1
June 28	GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout	Norwalk	11 AM	FS1
June 28	Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals	Norwalk	7 PM	FOX
July 18	Sonoma Mission 2F2T Challenge	Sonoma	9:30 PM	FS1
July 18	GETTRX NHRA PSM All-Star Callout	Sonoma	10:30 PM	FS1
July 19	Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals	Sonoma	10 PM	FS1
July 26	Muckleshoot Casino Resort Northwest Nationals	Seattle	4 PM	FOX
Aug. 23	NHRA Brainerd Nationals	Brainerd	TBD	TBD
Sept. 6	NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout	Indianapolis	7 PM	FS1
Sept. 7	Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals	Indianapolis	12 PM	FS1
Sept. 7	Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals	Indianapolis	2 PM	FOX

Countdown to the Championship Television Schedule

Sept. 20	NHRA Great Lakes Nationals	Martin	2 PM	FS1
Sept. 27	NHRA ANationals at The Rock	Rockingham	3 PM	FS1
Oct. 4	NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals	St. Louis	TBD	TBD
Oct. 18	Texas NHRA FallNationals	Dallas	TBD	TBD
Nov. 1	NHRA Nevada Nationals	Las Vegas	5 PM	FS1
Nov. 15	In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals	Pomona	5 PM	FS1

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Young’s Motorsports Daytona International Speedway O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Team Preview

By

Official Release

-

February 13, 2026

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway | United Rentals 300

Fast Facts

No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Ryan Ellis
Primary Partner(s): Tablo TV
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis
2026 Driver Points Position: N/A
2026 Owner Points Position: N/A
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Notes of Interest:

● Year Three, Driven Forward: In November 2025, Ryan Ellis was announced to compete full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series as Young’s Motorsports enters its third season in the series.

In a significant move for 2026, Young’s Motorsports will transition its flagship No. 02 — long associated with the organization’s success in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series — to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time, reinforcing the team’s commitment to strengthening its presence at the national level.

Ellis will pilot the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro across the full 33-race schedule, culminating with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in November.

● About Ryan: A respected veteran in the NASCAR garage, Ellis joins Young’s Motorsports with more than a decade of experience across NASCAR’s national ranks, including competition in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

The 2026 season will mark Ellis’ fourth full-time campaign in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

The 35-year-old Virginia native is coming off his first career NASCAR top-10 finish in 2025 and looks to build on that momentum while continuing to expand his résumé, which includes 164 career starts in series competition.

Known for his consistency, professionalism, and versatility both behind the wheel and in the garage, Ellis aims to apply his experience to elevate Young’s Motorsports’ competitive presence in its third season of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition.

● All-Aboard!: For the first of 33 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Tablo TV as the primary partner on the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro for Saturday evening’s 120-lap event.

Tablo provides fans with an affordable way to access live, local broadcast television — including racing and other major sporting events — without a monthly subscription.

Through a simple setup that includes a Tablo device and antenna, viewers can enjoy major networks such as NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, ION and The CW, along with recording functionality and multi-device streaming capability.

With just a one-time device purchase of about $100, an antenna, internet connection and the free Tablo TV app, customers can watch live, local broadcast coverage of racing, local news, live sports, classic shows and more for free.

Families can stream on multiple devices at once, making it easy to catch the big race in one room and a show in another. Simple, affordable, and endlessly entertaining — Tablo TV brings America’s most popular TV back to fans for free.

All NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races will be broadcast live on The CW, and practices and qualifying can be streamed on The CW App. The CW can be watched, paused and recorded on Tablo TV, a subscription-free way to access 125+ broadcast and streaming channels.

Content and channels are subject to availability in your area.

Nuvyyo USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of The E.W. Scripps Company, is a successful technology company re-inventing the over-the-air television experience for the streaming age.

Tablo and Tablo TV are trademarks of Nuvyyo USA, LLC. All third-party trademarks, including logos, are the property of their respective owners.

For more information, visit TabloTV.com.

● Strength in Representation: In addition to Tablo TV, the team welcomes Farah & Farah as an associate marketing partner on the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro for the United Rentals 300.

Farah & Farah — one of the Southeast’s most prominent personal injury law firms — will be featured on the rear quarter panel of the No. 02 Tablo TV Chevrolet on Saturday, February 14.

The partnership brings together two brands defined by grit and community roots. With more than 45 years of advocating for Florida families, Farah & Farah finds a natural fit in Ryan Ellis, known throughout the garage as NASCAR’s “Blue Collar Connection” for his relentless work ethic and climb through the racing ranks.

“We are thrilled to ride along with Ryan Ellis at Daytona,” said Chuck Farah, senior partner at Farah & Farah.

“Ryan’s tenacity and his stand for the everyday heroes among us resonate deeply with our firm’s mission. We’ve spent our careers fighting for the underdog, and there is no better stage than the high banks of Daytona to celebrate that spirit of perseverance.”

● Ryan Ellis O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Daytona International Speedway Stats: Saturday night’s first superspeedway race of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season will mark Ellis’ ninth career start at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

In his previous eight starts at the “World Center of Racing,” Ellis’s best result came twice, during the 2024 season-opener and most recently in last summer’s Wawa 250, where he earned a track-best 11th, driving for Alpha Prime Racing and DGM Racing, respectively.

Overall, he holds an O’Reilly Auto Parts Series average finish of 24.3 at the famed Daytona Beach, Fla., superspeedway.

In addition to his eight NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts, Ellis also has two NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, finishing a track series-best 16th in the 2015 NextEra Energy Resources 250 for FDNY Racing.

● Ryan Ellis O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Career Stats: Entering Daytona, Ellis has 164 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races to his credit, earning a career-best eighth-place finish after starting 30th in the 2025 edition of the BETMGM 300 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway for DGM Racing.

Since his 2012 debut, Ellis has averaged a 26.5 finish in series competition, including the past three seasons running full-time.

● Calling the Shots: Guiding Ellis as crew chief of the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief, engineer and industry veteran Eddie Troconis.

On Saturday night, he will be crew chief in his 22nd NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. In his previous 21 races, he has one top-10 finish in 2021 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

The season’s first race will be his second tango at Daytona International Speedway as crew chief in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Daytona International Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ fifth start in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Daytona International Speedway.

The organization made its series debut at the World Center of Racing in February 2024, qualifying for the event before a late-race accident derailed what had been a strong showing. The team rebounded in August, advancing from 20th on the grid to finish ninth — one of two top-10 finishes during its inaugural season.

Last year’s season-opening United Rentals 300 featured another competitive run that was cut short by a multi-car accident with one lap remaining. In August, Young’s Motorsports returned with comparable speed but was sidelined by mechanical issues.

Overall, the organization has competed in eight O’Reilly Auto Parts Series superspeedway events, averaging a 19.3 finish.

At Daytona specifically, its four previous starts have resulted in an average starting position of 25.8 and an average finish of 24.5.

Beyond its O’Reilly Auto Parts Series efforts, the Mooresville, N.C.-based team has made 21 starts at Daytona in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2014, producing a 17.4 average finish.

That stretch is highlighted by a team-best fourth-place result with Spencer Boyd in the 2019 NextEra Energy Resources 250.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series History: Since entering the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 66 starts and maintains an average starting position of 25.7 and an average finish of 23.8.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on Ryan Ellis, please visit ryanellisracing.com, like him on Facebook (Ryan Ellis), and follow him on Instagram (@ryanellisracing), TikTok (@ryanellisracing), and X | Twitter (@ryanellisracing).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Ryan Ellis Pre-Race Quotes:

On Joining Young’s Motorsports: “I’m really excited about the opportunity to join Young’s Motorsports beginning with the 2026 season.

“It’s a team that’s continuing to grow and build its identity in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and I feel like I can be a big part of that process. I’ve always believed that the people you surround yourself with make the biggest difference, and I’m confident this group has the drive and passion to make big strides together.”

On Tablo TV Continued Partnership: “I’m really excited to continue our partnership with Tablo TV. They’re committed to making racing and live sports more accessible for fans, and that aligns perfectly with what we believe in at Young’s Motorsports.

“Giving people a way to watch the action without barriers is important, especially for families who love this sport as much as we do. I’m proud to represent Tablo TV and grateful for their continued support as we head into the 2026 season.”

On Daytona International Speedway: “Daytona is one of those tracks every racer looks forward to. It’s a place where anything can happen, and it really tests your patience, focus and ability to race in traffic. You have to be smart but aggressive, especially in the closing laps.

“The team has shown speed here before, and I’m excited to work with this group to build on that and put ourselves in position for the finish we know we’re capable of.

“Daytona is all about execution when it matters most, and if we do the right things throughout the race, we can be there at the end.”

On 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Goals: “Our goal for 2026 and beyond is simple — keep improving every weekend and build something sustainable together.

“Young’s Motorsports has been putting in the work to establish itself in this series, and I want to help take that next step. If we can stay consistent, run competitively every week, and continue to close the gap to the front, the results will follow. It’s about progress, chemistry, and execution. I’m ready to get started!”

No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Carson Hocevar

Primary Partner(s): Zeigler Automotive Group

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro

Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Notes of Interest:

● Year Three, Driven Forward: Young’s Motorsports returns to the newly rebranded NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, looking to make an immediate impact with its second full-time entry, beginning at Daytona International Speedway.

For the season opener, Carson Hocevar will pilot the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro in the first of 33 races on the 2026 schedule.

● About Carson: A native of Portage, Michigan, Carson Hocevar brings experience across NASCAR’s national touring divisions, including the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year is a five-time Truck Series winner who advanced to the Championship 4 in 2023, further cementing his reputation as one of the sport’s most versatile young competitors.

Now competing full-time at NASCAR’s highest level, Hocevar brings proven winning experience and superspeedway strength to Young’s Motorsports’ Daytona effort

● All-Aboard!: For the first of 33 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Zeigler Automotive Group as the primary partner on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for Saturday evening’s 120-lap event.

Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately owned automotive dealer groups in the United States, operating 88 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the family-owned organization employs more than 2,500 people and is consistently recognized among the nation’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.

Triple Duty: It will be an extremely busy opening weekend in the Sunshine State for the Michigander.

In addition to making his Daytona NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut,

Hocevar is also slated to compete in Friday night’s Fresh From Florida 250 in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Sunday’s Great American Race — the Daytona 500 — both with Spire Motorsports.

● Carson Hocevar O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Daytona International Speedway Stats: Saturday night’s first superspeedway race of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season will mark Carson Hocevar’s inaugural series start at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.

He does, however, bring experience at Daytona across NASCAR’s national divisions.

In four NASCAR Cup Series starts, Hocevar posted a track-best finish of 11th in the 2024 edition of the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

He has also made three NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at the speedway, earning a career-best fifth-place result in his 2021 debut in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 with Niece Motorsports.

● Carson Hocevar O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Career Stats: Entering Daytona, Hocevar has seven NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races to his credit, earning a career-best sixth-place finish twice, most recently after starting third in the 2025 edition of the HyVee Parks 250 at Iowa Speedway for Kaulig Racing.

Since his 2023 debut, he has averaged a 23.4 finish in series competition.

● Calling the Shots: Guiding Hocevar as crew chief of the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

On Saturday night, he will be the crew chief in his 163rd NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. In his previous 162 races, he has four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.

The season’s first race will be his 14th tango at Daytona International Speedway as crew chief in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.