Chandler Smith secured a thrilling victory at Daytona International Speedway, crossing the finish line just 0.044 seconds ahead of the pack in the Fresh from Florida 250. The Front Row Motorsports driver executed an intense four-wide pass on the final lap, leaving fans amazed by his precision and timing during the last moments of the race.
Smith began the decisive move while entering Turn 3 in sixth place, with John Hunter Nemechek leading the race and closely followed by Ty Majeski, Christian Eckes, and Gio Ruggiero. In a frantic battle among these front-runners, Smith maneuvered onto the inside lane and surged to the front at the finish line. Ruggiero finished second, with the top five drivers separated by less than 0.07 seconds, emphasizing how tightly contested the race was.
Notable Drivers and Race Setbacks
The event featured several prominent competitors, including Tony Stewart, Travis Pastrana, and YouTuber Cleetus McFarland. Stewart’s race ended prematurely after he was involved in a crash, while McFarland also exited early after losing control of his vehicle. Despite these setbacks, the race remained intense among the leading drivers.
Chandler Smith’s path to victory was especially dramatic considering his earlier failure to qualify for the Daytona 500 due to a crash in the Duel race. This marked his third attempt to qualify for the prestigious crown jewel event. Meanwhile, Corey Heim, the 2025 Truck Series champion, secured his position during single-car qualifying on the preceding Wednesday. Other open entries aiming for the main event included Casey Mears, Justin Allgaier, and BJ McLeod.
Chandler Smith Acknowledges Ty Majeski’s Critical Role
In the post-race interview, Smith credited teammate Ty Majeski for helping propel him to victory. As the polesitter, Majeski pushed Smith closely during the last lap, which proved to be the key to sealing the win.
“First off, I want to shout out all glory to God….I am super, super grateful that I serve such a loving God that blessed me with such a good group of men and women around me at Front Row Motorsports. Ty Majeski, one of my best four teammates I’ve ever worked with,” Smith said via Motorsport, “He is all credit to how we just won that race truthfully. He stayed committed to a Ford and pushed a blue oval to a win.”
“Just super, super grateful for everybody on this No. 38 Ford F-150 group. We made some changes in the off-season. I felt like last year everybody for the most part knows how this 38 group came together last year, but we built on it and made this group so much better for this year, and I’m so excited for 2026,” he added.
This victory was the eighth of Smith’s career and his third while driving for Front Row Motorsports. The 2021 Rookie of the Year celebrated his first career win with Kyle Busch Motorsports and finished eighth in the 2025 standings after wins at Bristol Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Implications of Smith’s Win and Future Outlook
Chandler Smith’s narrow victory at Daytona highlights his growing skill and resilience as a top NASCAR driver, especially after his earlier disappointment at the Daytona 500 qualifying. His ability to capitalize on the final moments of this race, with strong support from his teammates and strategic prowess, positions him as a key contender in upcoming events. The collaboration within Front Row Motorsports and incremental improvements since last season suggest a promising 2026 campaign for Smith and his team.
What a finish! Chandler Smith wins the NASCAR Truck Series race at Daytona! pic.twitter.com/s5qy9td9v1
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 14, 2026
