Zane Smith Takes Daytona Truck Victory in Overtime

Photo Credit to Front Row Motorsports via Twitter

NASCAR

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Opens 2022 With Daytona Overtime Victory

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – An abnormally calm Truck Series season opener from Daytona would end in overtime. The night was dominated by John Hunter Nemechek. Although, it was Zane Smith left ahead when the final caution flew. This marks a fourth career victory for the California driver, locking him into the 2022 Playoffs. This victory also comes in Smith’s first start with Front Row Motorsports. The defending Daytona 500 winning team is back in victory lane in Florida.

Clean and Green for Most of the Night

Amazingly, both Stages were contested without any cautions. Both would be won by John Hunter Nemechek, as the 4 made late passes for the win each time. However, Nemechek would be one of many victims in a crash coming to the white flag. After Tyler Ankrum got turned from third, many could not avoid the sideways 16.

This wreck resulted in an Overtime finish, as the caution flew just feet before the leader took the white flag. On the restart, Parker Kligerman gave Zane Smith enough of a shove for the 38 to grab the lead. Just after Smith took the white flag, another crash ensued, causing a race-ending yellow flag.

Top 10 finishers from Daytona Trucks are Smith, Ben Rhodes, Christian Eckes, Tanner Gray, Parker Kligerman, Jesse Little, Ty Majeski, Danny Bohn, Carson Hocevar, and Matt DiBenedetto.

Zane Smith Hungry for More in 2022

“I truly believe this is the first of a few this year,” Smith said. “I feel a great connection with my team, and I think it’s our time.”

“It’s wild what pit road will do for you. The past two years I’ve really had a lot of fuel to fire me up. I’m just going to try and ride this wave, as much as I can, but I don’t think top-fives will be our issue this year. We’re going to be chasing after wins. So dang cool to already be in the Playoffs, a huge weight off of all our shoulders. It’s all about Stage wins now.”

Front Row Motorsports returns to Daytona victory lane, once again with Love’s Travel Stops on the winning vehicle.

After coming just eight laps shy of the championship last fall in Phoenix, Zane Smith kicks off 2022 as the first man in the Playoffs. As the runner-up in both of the last two years, can Zane Smith get one spot better this year?

The Truck Series will be back in action on March 4 from Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Bucked Up 200 will go green at 9:30 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Las Vegas also marks Kyle Busch’s first Truck start of 2022, so he will be a favorite.

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Front Row Motorsports via Twitter