NASCAR
Zane Smith Goes Back-to-Back in Rain-Shortened Daytona Truck Race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – 2023 so far is off to the same start as 2022 for Zane Smith and the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports team. Much like the kickoff to their championship-winning season 12 months ago, Smith took his Ford F-150 to Daytona victory lane. Unlike last year’s largely clean race though, 2023 at Daytona for the Truckers was halted many times by rain. Ultimately, the race would end 27 laps early, with the win going to the defending Craftsman Truck Series champion.
Across both Stages rain would halt the race three times, with one brief red flag. The Stage wins would go to Christian Eckes and Tyler Ankrum, with both drivers aiming to end long winless streaks. Stage 2 would come to a crashing end for some, as a late block by Stewart Friesen ended the night early for the 52 team.
More trouble on the final lap of Stage 2. pic.twitter.com/cnFnfIKxw6
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 18, 2023
Once racing resumed for the final Stage, intensity was ramped up. Corey Lajoie took the lead after staying out under the stage break, going for his first NASCAR National Series win. The Spire Motorsports truck would only lose the top spot after being split three-wide by Zane Smith and Tyler Ankrum. Not long after the 38 took point, a fourth rain caution would fly. Despite track drying efforts, the Truck Series season-opener would be called 21 laps shy of the finish.
Top-10 finishers from Daytona behind Smith were Tanner Gray, Christian Eckes, Colby Howard, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, Corey Heim, Matt Crafton, and Chase Elliott.
“This win is huge, the past couple of times I’ve actually been to Daytona I’ve been to victory lane,” Smith said. “To be able to do it a third time, I obviously just tried to play that race as smart as possible when it was getting really aggressive. I knew that this rain would be a factor, from our Ford meeting earlier in the day. I didn’t think it would stick around this long, I just wanted to be there after Stage 2. Huge shoutout to all the race fans, sorry we couldn’t go back racing for you all. But hopefully we give you guys a good show tomorrow, and I’ll be out there Sunday.”
Daytona last year began a season-long effort for the No. 38 Ford that ended with the big trophy at Phoenix. Can Zane Smith become the second ever back-to-back Truck Series champion? He’s locked into the 2023 Playoffs thanks to this win, so a title defense starts now.
The Craftsman Truck Series will return to action in two weeks from Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 will go green on Friday, March 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Vegas was one rare misstep for Zane Smith in 2022, as he was disqualified after finishing second. With no pressure now and only chasing more wins, the 38 team could be dangerous again.
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter
Photo Credit to James Gilbert/Getty Images for NASCAR
