NASCAR Saturday schedule at Daytona Daytona Truck race results, driver points Zane Smith wins rain-shortened Daytona Truck Series opener Jimmie Johnson: Fast on the track, faster in the air Ford, Chevrolet executives say F1 programs won’t hurt NASCAR efforts

Sunday’s Daytona 500 final practice is scheduled for 10:30 am Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

A field of 40 cars for NASCAR’s biggest race was decided on Thursday night in a pair of 150 mile qualifying races. Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports will start in the front row on Sunday, based on Wednesday’s time trial qualifying speeds.

MORE: Kurt Busch retains hope to race again as his recovery continues

The first race of the Xfinity Series season is scheduled for 5pm ET (FS1) on Saturday. The rookie field will be determined in two qualifying rounds at 11:30.

The ARCA 200 mile race is scheduled for 13:30.

Daytona International Speedway (Cup, Xfinity and Trucks)

Weekend weather

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 67. Wind 15-25 m/s. 13% chance of evening rain.

Saturday, February 18

(All time Eastern)

Garage open

• 6:00 – 22:00 – Xfinity Series
• 8:00 – 14:30 – Cup Series
• 10:00 – 17:15 – ARKA

Activity Tracking

• 10:30 – 11:20 – Series Cup Practice (FS1, Motor Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• 11:30 – 13:00 – Xfinity Series Qualifier (FS1)
• 13:30 – ARCA race (80 laps, 200 miles; FS1, Motor Racing Network)
• 5:00 pm Xfinity Series Race (120 laps, 300 miles; FS1, Motor Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida. An unfortunate rain finally forced an early end to the Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday night at Daytona International Speedway to become series champion. Zane Smith received a win.

The weather, which kept the race track in thick fog, hampered the race for most of the journey, and NASCAR officially announced it at 11:12 pm ET with 21 of 100 laps to go. Smith held the lead.

Smith also won the first Daytona tournament last year.

MORE: Daytona Truck Results

MORE: Daytona Truck Driver Glasses

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Zane Smith won Friday night’s rubble-strewn, rain-cut opener of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway.

Smith was ahead when NASCAR named 21 laps out of a planned 100 as an official race. The race ended at 11:12 pm ET.

Smith, last year’s Truck Series champion, wins the inaugural Daytona for the second year in a row.

MORE: Daytona Truck Results, Driver Points

“I know there are about a million ways to get it in Dayton, but we’re proving it,” Smith said. “Obviously I wanted to go back there to compete with my good friends really, but hey, we’ll win in Dayton any day we can get it. Just a huge hello to everyone at Front Row Motorsports. This whole group, I’ve said it over and over, they’re working hard and proving it. Making the playoffs is like a repeat of last year.”

Following Smith at the finish line were Tanner Gray, Christian Eckes, Colby Howard And Grant Enfinger. Smith led the last 15 laps and 17 in total.

MORE: Kurt Busch Continues to Exercise as His Recovery Continues

“We want to win and I think it’s time to do it,” Gray said of his second-place finish. “Obviously given how our night went, the second night was good for us. The race is not as smooth as we would like.”

Former Cup Series Champion Chase Elliott was 10th and extreme sports star Travis Pastrana, who is due to make his Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500 Sunday, was 13th.

The trucks remained on the track as it began to rain lightly at the start of the race, but officials parked the field on pit road under red flag conditions as the downpours on the 2.5-mile track intensified with 27 laps to go. Smith was leading the race at the time.

After a delay, the trucks cautiously returned to the track, but downpours and persistent lingering fog forced them to pit again six laps later, and NASCAR declared the race official a few minutes later. For an hour, the trucks stood under a red flag.

An accident involving several trucks on the way back prompted a warning at the end of the second leg. Stuart Friesen, racing outside closer to the front, attempted to block, but ended up crashing into the outer wall. Several trucks turned around behind him.

MORE: Daytona 500 disappoints many seasoned drivers

Clay Greenfield lost control of his truck in a three wide lap race on lap 28 and provoked a six car crash. Hayley DeeganThe truck was severely damaged in the incident. The wreckage of the crash caused an alarming delay.

“I saw 84 (Greenfield) from the side and it was almost there,” Deegan said. “I saw him go down the path, so I went up. It was an instant decision. You just go right or left and they end up bouncing off another truck, so that’s what it is. We know the Daytona is one of those races where you either finish in the top ten or end up in a trailer home.”

The middle lane also turned out to be the wrong route for Karut diagramwho had an accident after losing control of his truck with 42 laps to go while trying to drive through the middle.

Stage 1 winnerStory by: Christian Eckes

Stage 2 winner: Tyler Ankram

Who had a good race: Zane Smith had a strong truck throughout the race and pulled ahead when it threatened to rain. … Christian Eckes finished third and won the first stage.

Who had a bad race: Multi-truck crash on lap 28 resulted in Haley Deegan, Dean Thompson and Clay Greenfield parked their cars for the night. … Stuart Friesen was strong in the middle of the race but lost control of his truck as it raced to the finish line of stage two, prompting a multi-truck crash. … Rookie Raja Karut was involved in a multi-truck crash on lap 58.

Next: The Truck Series is moving to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where the race will take place on March 3rd.

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida. Friday was a very fast day for Jimmie Johnson.

The seven-time NASCAR Cup champion had a relatively unexpected performance at Daytona 500 practice, leading the Friday afternoon session at 194.225 mph, returning to stock car racing after two years in the IndyCar Series.

But wait… that’s not all. And the faster it was. Much faster.

Also on Friday, Johnson toured with the US Air Force Thunderbirds, a high-flying fighter squadron that performs at airshows and other events and will fly around before the start of 500 Sunday. Johnson became the last Cup driver to make a high-speed run in one of the team’s aircraft.

“I have never felt anything like it,” Johnson said. “Arenalin, acceleration. The first thing we did outside of the runway was the “presentation” of the turn…