Camping World Truck Series Daytona 2017 NASCAR Race Info
NextEra ENERGY RESOURCES 250
Daytona International Speedway
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race #1 of 23 for the 2017 season
Race: Friday, February 24, 2017 in Daytona Beach, FL
Title Sponsor: NextEra Energy Resources
Race Time: 7:30pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:52pm/et
TELEVISION COVERAGE
Television Race Coverage: FoxSports1 – 7:30pm/et
TV Listings, Links and Info: Jayski’s TV Listings Page
TV Racer Armed Forces Network – Search NASCAR
RADIO COVERAGE
Motor Racing Network (motorracingnetwork.com) and SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90 (siriusxm.com)
ONLINE STREAMING
FOX Sports GO. All NASCAR programming on FOX and FOX Sports 1 is streamed live through the FOX Sports GO app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content. Requires a participating TV provider. MRN Live Streaming SiriusXM Internet Radio is available via any internet connected device, with a subscription.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Times are local to the Track and subject to change
Wednesday, February 22
9:30 AM 5:00 PM NCWTS REGISTRATION OPEN
10:30 AM NCWTS HAULERS ENTER
12:00 PM 5:00 PM NCWTS GARAGE OPEN
Thursday, February 23
9:30 AM 5:00 PM NCWTS REGISTRATION OPEN
10:30 AM 7:00 PM NCWTS GARAGE OPEN
10:30 AM NCWTS, NXS, MENCS SPOTTERS MEETING (MEDIA CENTER)
12:30 PM NCWTS ROOKIE MEETING & RANDOM DRAWING
2:00 PM 2:55 PM NCWTS 1ST PRACTICE
4:00 PM 4:55 PM NCWTS FINAL PRACTICE
Friday, February 24
10:30 AM 8:00 PM NCWTS REGISTRATION OPEN
10:30 AM NCWTS GARAGE OPENS
11:00 AM 6:30 PM NCWTS Minors Permitted in the Garage Area*
3:00 PM 3:45 PM NCWTS AUTOGRAPH SESSION
4:30 PM NCWTS QUALIFYING (SINGLE VEHICLE / TWO ROUNDS)
6:15 PM NCWTS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING (DRIVERS MEETING ROOM)
7:00 PM NCWTS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
7:30 PM NCWTS RACE (100 LAPS, 250 MILES)
NCWTS = NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
RACE INFORMATION
Grala wins Daytona after last lap crash
A multi-truck wreck on the last lap allowed pole-sitter, 18-year-old #33-Kaz Grala to claim his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory in the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250. Defending Champion #21-Johnny Sauter and two-time series champion #88-Matt Crafton, were among those involved in the pile-up. As the trucks began wrecking, Crafton’s Toyota flipped.
#32-Austin Wayne Self scored his best career finish in second, 2016 ARCA Racing Series champion #29-Chase Briscoe was third. #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #87-Joe Nemechek, #92-Regan Smith, #24-Scott Lagasse, Jr., #4-Christopher Bell, #22-JJ Yeley, and #51-Myatt Snider closed out the top-10. There were six caution flags for 29 laps and 14 lead changes among 9 leaders.
Complete results are on the Daytona race results page(pdf)(2-24-2017)
Truck Series point standings following Daytona
1) #33-Kaz Grala, 56
2) #21-Johnny Sauter, 42, -14
3) ##29-Chase Briscoe, 39, -17
4) #27-Ben Rhodes, 38, -18
5) #87-Joe Nemechek, 36, -20
See complete standings on the driver standings page(pdf)
Daytona Fast Facts:
Kaz Grala won the 18th Annual NextEra Energy Resources 250, his first victory in ten NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish at Daytona International Speedway.
Austin Wayne Self (second) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2017.Chase Briscoe (third) posted his first top-10 finish at Daytona International Speedway in his first start.
Kaz Grala (first) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kaz Grala leads the point standings by 14 points over Johnny Sauter.
Kaz Grala’s win is the fourth-time a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race has been won from the pole at Daytona – previous wins from the pole: Jack Sprague, 2007; Mark Martin, 2006; Joe Ruttman, 2001.
Kas Grala becomes the youngest Daytona winner in NASCAR national series history at 18 years, 1 month and 26 days – previous record was held by Tyler Reddick (19 years, 1 month, 9 days).(NASCAR Statistics)(2-24-2017)
Free pass – Who got a lap back on each caution at Daytona: (and their finish)
Caution 1: none
Caution 2: none
Caution 3: #63-Gerhart, 21st
Caution 4: #8-Nemechek, 4th
Caution 5: #23-Gallagher, 13
Caution 6: none
(2-24-2017)
Stage Information:
Stage 1 – 20 laps – Winner, #21-Johnny Sauter
Stage 2 – 20 laps – Winner, #21-Johnny Sauter
Stage 3 – 60 laps – Race winner, #33-Kaz Grala
QUALIFYING, PRACTICE, AND ENTRY INFORMATION
Grala on pole at Daytona: GMS Racing started their quest for a second straight championship on the right track, sweeping the top-three positions for Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. Rookie #33-Kaz Grala was fastest at 180.676mph. Defending Champion #21-Johnny Sauter will start second. #23-Spencer Gallagher, #4-Christopher Bell, #17-Timothy Peters, #7-Brett Moffitt, #88-Matt Crafton, #27-Ben Rhodes, #87-Joe Nemechek, and #5-Korbin Forrister round out the top-10 starting spots.
#1-Timothy Viens, #6-Norm Benning, #10-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #12-Spencer Boyd, #28-Bryan Dauzat, #44-Brandon Brown, #47-Chris Fontaine, #74-Jordan Anderson, and #75-Parker Kligerman failed to qualify for the event.[Starting lineup](2-24-2017)
Qualifying Fast Facts:
Kaz Grala won the Keystone Light 21 Means 21 Pole Award for the 18th Annual NextEra Energy Resources 250 with a lap of 49.813 seconds, 180.676 mph.
This is his first pole in ten NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2017.This is his first pole at Daytona International Speedway.
Johnny Sauter (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2017 and his sixth in nine races at Daytona International Speedway.
Spencer Gallagher(i) (third) posted his second top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway.
Kaz Grala (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Kaz Grala has become the youngest NASCAR national series pole winner at Daytona International Speedway at the age 18 years, 1 month and 26 days (previous record was held by Dylan Kwasniewski at the age of 18 years, 8 months and 22 days).(NASCAR Statistics)(2-24-2017)
Qualifying will consist of two single-truck rounds. Qualifying order
Briscoe paces Daytona practice: After over a two-month absence, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series action returned on Thursday, with practice in preparation of Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Rain forced NASCAR to consolidate the originally scheduled two practice sessions into one, with rookie, #29-Chase Briscoe, posting the fastest lap during the nearly two-hour session. He was followed by #24-Scott Lagasse, Jr., #13-Cody Coughlin, #27-Ben Rhodes, #17-Timothy Peters, #21-Johnny Sauter, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #52-Stewart Friesen, #18-Noah Gragson, and #4-Christopher Bell. 42 drivers are entered. All 42 practiced.[Practice speeds](2-23-2017)
Truck Series entry list: There are 39 trucks entered for Friday’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. See the complete list on the Daytona entry list pdf.
UPDATE: Timothy Viens has been added in the #1, Ross Chastain has been added in the #66, and Jordan Anderson has been added in the #74. There are now 42 entries for Friday’s race.(2-22-2017)
GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES
Camping World Truck Series – Race No. 1 – NextEra Energy Resources 250 Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile oval) – Daytona Beach, Fla. Fast Facts for February 17-26, 2016
Tire: Goodyear Eagle Superspeedway Radials
Set limits: Clash: 6 sets for the event;
Daytona 500: 10 sets for practice/qualifying/Duel, and 7 sets for the race
Xfinity: 4 sets for the event;
Camping World Truck: 4 sets for the event
Tire Codes: Left-side — D-4596; Right-side — D-4600
Tire Circumference: Left-side — 87.91 in. (2,233 mm); Right-side — 88.39 in. (2,245 mm)
Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front — 27 psi; Left Rear — 27 psi; Right Front — 50 psi; Right Rear — 48 psi
Notes: Teams in all three NASCAR series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Daytona throughout Speedweeks . . . this exact combination of left- and right-side tires is unique to Daytona and has been well suited to this superspeedway application since its debut at this track in July 2013 . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Daytona . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.
Goodyear Blimp: Goodyear’s “Wingfoot One,” based out of Pompano Beach. Fla., will be in the air over Daytona International Speedway throughout Speedweeks . . . the ship will be a part of Fox and Fox Sports 1’s television coverage of The Clash and Cup qualifying during the first week, and the Can-Am Duel, Camping World Truck, Xfinity and Cup races during the second week.
NASCAR NEWS & NOTES
Sauter Begins Title Defense At Daytona
Back for his ninth full-time season to defend his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title, Johnny Sauter will attempt to win the NextEra 250 at DAYTONA International Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1) for the second consecutive year.
The No. 21 GMS Racing driver became the first competitor in NCWTS history to clinch an automatic berth in the playoffs when he held off Ryan Truex for the victory at Daytona last year.
Sauter captured the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title on the strength of three wins, 12 top fives and 19 top 10s. He increased his performance at the end of the year finishing first, first, second and third in the final four races.
Matt Crafton (2013-14) is the only driver who’s won back-to-back NCWTS titles.
Bell Ready To Build On Strong Sunoco Rookie Campaign
Following a third-place championship finish in his rookie NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Christopher Bell is back in the No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra for another go-around.
“I’m really excited to begin my second full-time season with Kyle Busch Motorsports,” Bell said. “Every track that we will race at this season I’m already going to have experience at, unlike last year where a lot of the tracks I was going to for the first time. I feel like having more experience will be a big help – I know what to expect from all of the tracks and that will allow me to be better prepared for each and every race this season. My goal going into this year is pretty simple and that’s to go out and win more races.”
In 30 career NCWTS starts, Bell owns two wins, 11 top fives and 20 top 10s. He has led more than 300 laps.
Last month, Bell won the prestigious Chili Bowl Nationals sprint car event.
Chasing Hornaday: Crafton Goes For Championship No. 3
Matt Crafton will embark on his quest for a third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, beginning with Friday’s NextEraEnergy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
Crafton, who finished runner-up in last year’s final standings, has never won at Daytona. He has a best finish of fifth (2010) at the 2.5-mile track.
Crafton trails only Ron Hornaday Jr. (4) and Jack Sprague (3) on the all-time championships list.
Family Affair: Father-Son Nemechek Combo To Race Against Each Other At Daytona
The last father-son combo to compete in the same NCWTS Race was Dave and Ryan Blaney at Eldora in 2013. The last time a father-son combo competed in a NASCAR national series race at Daytona was 2006 (Bobby Hamilton/Bobby Hamilton Jr.).
John Hunter scored an eighth-place championship finish last season on the strength of two wins, five top fives and 11 tops 10s. He qualified for the first-ever NCWTS playoffs.
Joe Nemechek is a 20-time NASCAR national series winner with four victories in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and 16 in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. The Naples, Florida, native earned the 1992 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship.(NASCAR)