NASCAR Truck Series driver Zane Smith enjoyed an eventful 24 hours.
One night after qualifying as an open driver for Sunday’s Daytona 500 during Thursday’s Duels, Smith placed first in the rain-shortened NextEra Energy 250 on Friday at Daytona International Speedway.
Smith, the defending series points champion, has earned back-to-back season-opening Truck victories at Daytona.
Standing under an umbrella, Smith “somewhat” wanted to resume racing following a prolonged delay, but admitted to Fox Sports during a live interview that “we’ll take a win at Daytona any way we can get it.”
Moments earlier, NASCAR officials called the event because of the weather, sealing another quick start.
“We are locked in the playoffs,” Smith said. “It’s like a repeat of last year.”
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series 2023 season is underway!
📺 FS1 | #NextEra250 pic.twitter.com/TIoojzZR3P
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) February 18, 2023
Zane Smith Follows Team’s Pre-Race Gameplan, Makes Move
While it may be a repeat, Smith’s performance was radically different than a year ago when he was forced into overtime before pulling out the win.
This season, Smith’s team executed a pre-race plan. If he couldn’t compete for early-stage points, he would hang back, conserve fuel and wait for his opportunity, which came just before the final rain delay.
“I picked a good time to get to the lead,” he said.
Smith selected an opportune moment to take advantage of Corey LaJoie’s mistake. Caught in the middle of three-wide racing, LaJoie failed to dive in front of a pressing Smith, and he lost all drafting assistance. He fell back to 23rd place. With momentum, Smith cruised to the lead with 35 laps remaining after not being much of a factor during the opening two stages.
“I know there (are) about a million ways to win at Daytona and we’re proving that,” Smith said. “I can’t wait for Sunday. This whole week is turning into something special.
“I’m just loving life right now.”
The race has been called due to weather.@ZaneSmith wins the #NextEra250 at @DAYTONA. pic.twitter.com/htrBYyYf0s
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) February 18, 2023
Zane Smith: ‘Obviously, I Wanted To Get Back To Racing’
After seven caution periods because of rain and accidents, the red flag was displayed for weather on Lap 74, beginning a lengthy delay. The drivers climbed back into their trucks to attempt to dry the track’s surface but were called back to pit road after a few low-speed laps.
“Obviously, I wanted to get back to racing – somewhat – and duke it out with friends of mine,” Smith mockingly said.
About an hour earlier, Smith look up during a live interview and joked: “This is the hardest rain I’ve ever seen in my life.”
He seemed prepared to do his own version of a rain dance, if needed.
But it wasn’t needed and Smith secured his eighth career checkered flag.
Tanner Gray finished a career-best second and Christian Eckes begrudgingly placed third after securing a Stage 1 win.
“I swear if he Mickey Mouses his way into this,” Eckes said at the start of the final rain delay. “I’m going to be so mad.”
The Truck Series returns to action at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3.
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