Race Details
- Flag drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT, 6:30 p.m. CT). The race is scheduled for 100 laps (250 miles) on the 2.5-mile superspeedway, with stages of 20/40/100 laps.
- Venue: Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. This 2.5-mile tri-oval superspeedway features 31-degree banking in the turns, 18-degree banking in the tri-oval, and 3-degree banking on the backstretch. Known for pack racing, high speeds (up to 200 mph), and frequent multi-car incidents (“The Big One”), it’s a drafting-heavy track where alliances and fuel strategy play key roles.
- TV/Streaming: FS1, NASCAR Racing Network (MRN), SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
The Fresh From Florida 250 is the season opener for the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, marking the 27th running of the event. With 44 entries for 36 spots, qualifying will be crucial (practice Thursday, Feb. 12 at 5:00 p.m. ET; qualifying Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET). The race emphasizes superspeedway skills like drafting, avoiding wrecks, and late-race fuel mileage.
Expected Weather Conditions
Daytona Beach will experience increasing cloudiness with occasional rain in the afternoon on Friday, Feb. 13. High of 76°F, low of 60°F, with a 55% chance of precipitation. Winds N at 14 mph, humidity around 55-87%. Sunrise at 7:04 a.m., sunset at 6:13 p.m. If rain hits, it could delay the start or create slick conditions early, but the forecast suggests a mostly dry evening window.
Track Conditions
Daytona’s asphalt superspeedway is expected to be fast and grippy, promoting drafting packs and speeds over 190 mph. Caution speed is 70 mph. If showers occur, the track could turn good, increasing tire wear and emphasizing handling over power. No major resurfacing reported for 2026, so expect similar grip levels to 2025, where average lap times were around 47-48 seconds.
Race History
The Fresh From Florida 250 (formerly DRIVE4COPD 300 and others) has been the Truck Series opener at Daytona since 2000, contested over 100 laps (250 miles). It’s notorious for close finishes (15 of last 20 decided by <0.2 seconds) and high caution counts (average 10, lasting 35 laps). Chevrolet has dominated, winning 8 of the last 10. Past winners include Corey Heim (2025, after Parker Kligerman DQ), Nick Sanchez (2024), Zane Smith (2023, 2022), Ben Rhodes (2021), Grant Enfinger (2020), Austin Hill (2019), Johnny Sauter (2018), Kaz Grala (2017), and Tyler Reddick (2016). Average winner starts from 8th; race record 1:59:53 by Ty Gibbs (2022). Trends favor Richard Childress Racing (4 straight wins 2022-2025) and veterans like Sauter (most Daytona Truck wins).
Recent Driver Forms
Based on the 2025 season (Corey Heim champion with 12 wins, 4040 points; Ty Majeski runner-up with 0 wins, 4035 points; Kaden Honeycutt 3rd with 0 wins, 4034 points; Tyler Ankrum 4th with 1 win, 4023 points; Layne Riggs 5th with 3 wins, 2297 points). Preseason rankings for 2026 highlight Riggs (No. 1), Majeski (No. 2), Christian Eckes (No. 3), Honeycutt (No. 4), and Gio Ruggiero (No. 5). Top drivers entering 2026 include Riggs (3 wins, 13 Top-5s in 2025), Majeski (10 Top-5s, 18 Top-10s), Eckes (consistent Top-10s), and rookies like Brenden Queen and Cole Butcher. Veterans like Heim (12 wins in 2025) and Grant Enfinger (strong plate racer) return, while newcomers like Tony Stewart (debuting) add intrigue.
Driver Matchups
A star-studded field of 44 entries (for 36 spots) includes crossovers and veterans:
- Tony Stewart vs. Travis Pastrana: Stewart (No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram) debuts in Trucks since 2016; Pastrana (No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet) brings X Games flair. Stewart’s NASCAR experience edges Pastrana’s off-road skills in pack racing.
- Corey Heim vs. Ty Majeski: Heim (2025 champion, No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota) vs. Majeski (2025 runner-up, No. 88 ThorSport Racing Ford). Heim’s 12 wins dominate, but Majeski’s consistency (18 Top-10s) makes for a strong matchup.
- Michael McDowell vs. Carson Hocevar: McDowell (No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) brings Cup experience; Hocevar (No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) is a rising Truck star. Hocevar’s aggression vs. McDowell’s drafting savvy.
- Gio Ruggiero vs. Kaden Honeycutt: Ruggiero (No. 17 TRICON Garage Toyota, rookie) vs. Honeycutt (No. 45 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet, 2025 3rd place). Honeycutt’s experience edges Ruggiero’s youth.
- Rookies: Brenden Queen (No. 1 TRICON Garage Toyota) vs. Cole Butcher (No. 13 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet): Both debuting full-time; Queen’s ARCA background vs. Butcher’s potential.
DRIVER ODDS
Layne Riggs + 1000
Chandler Smith + 1100
Ty Majeski + 1200
Michael McDowell + 1200
Grant Enfinger + 1200
Carson Hocevar + 1200
Justin Haley + 1400
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. + 1400
John Hunter Nemechek + 1400
Giovanni Ruggiero + 1400
Christian Eckes + 1400
Tony Stewart + 1600
Taylor Gray + 1600
Kaden Honeycutt + 1600
Corey Lajoie + 1600
Daniel Hemric + 1700
Ben Rhodes + 2000
Tyler Ankrum + 2500
Jake Garcia + 3000
Tanner Gray + 3500
Stewart Friesen + 4000
Brenden Queen + 4500
Daniel Dye + 5500
Andres Perez de Lara Gonzalez + 7000
Travis Pastrana + 7500
Cleetus McFarland + 9000
Timothy Tyrrell + 10000
Nick Leitz + 10000
Kris Wright + 10000
Cole Butcher + 10000
Timmy Hill + 13000
Spencer Boyd + 13000
Jason Kitzmiller + 20000
Tyler Tomassi + 30000
Toni Breidinger + 30000
Norm Benning + 30000
Justin Carroll + 30000
Josh Reaume + 30000
Greg van Alst + 30000
Jason M. White + 30000
Frankie Muniz + 30000
Clay Greenfield + 30000
Bryan Dauzat + 30000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, February 12, 2026
