Date: Feb. 24, 2017
Event: NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Race 1 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile Tri-oval)
Format: Three Stages; 20 laps/20 laps/60 laps
Start/Finish: 13/10 (running, completed 100 of 100 laps)
Winner: Kaz Grala of GMS Racing (Chevrolet)
Myatt Snider and the No. 51 Toyota Racing team survived a series of multi-truck wrecks in Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, bringing home a 10th-place finish in the first race of the NCWTS 2017 season.
First Stage Recap:
- Snider started his first race at Daytona from the 13th position, but barely had time to make it around the track when a multi-truck wreck on the opening lap brought out the first caution of the night. When the race went back to green, Snider restarted from the 22nd position and quickly made his way through the field.
- The first stage of the race ended with a wreck and the No. 51 team opted not to go down pit road and started the second stage from the seventh position.
Second Stage Recap:
- The 22-year-old rookie used most of the second stage to draft with fellow KBM teammate Christopher Bell.
- After laps of exciting three-wide racing, Snider finished the second stage scored in the eighth position.
Third Stage Recap:
- The No. 51 Louisiana Hot Sauce Toyota Tundra started the third stage by making a trip down pit road for four tires and fuel. Later in the race Snider reported a gear problem in his Toyota Tundra that resulted in him being shuffled back in the pack on a restart.
- The race ended with an exciting green-white-checkered finish. The No. 51 Toyota Tundra got tangled up in a huge wreck on the final lap, but made it out to complete the season debut with a top-10 finish.
MYATT SNIDER, driver of the No. 51 Louisiana Hot Sauce Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
What did you see in the accident on the final lap?
“There at the end I just saw Matt Crafton flying so it was wild for sure. My Toyota Tundra was fast and I think we got plenty of TV time for Louisiana Hot Sauce. I’m feeling pretty good about it – even though the truck is pretty mashed up, I finished 10th so I’m pretty happy about that other than the damage.”
Were the trucks moving around more than usual in tonight’s race?
“We had a lot of rookies in this race and a lot of them who were getting in their truck for a first time on a speedway. It’s a lot of different feelings for them. Everybody was moving around quite a bit, but it was a blast to run.”
NextEra Energy Resources 250 Recap:
- Kaz Grala earned his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory in just his 10th series start. Austin Wayne Self finished in the runner-up position, while Chase Briscoe, John Hunter Nemechek and Joe Nemechek rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured six cautions for a total of 29 laps. There were 14 lead changes among nine drivers. Bell led three times for a total of six laps.
How Snider’s KBM Teammates Fared:
Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished 26th
Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 4 Toyota, finished eighth
Next Race:
Next week owner-driver Kyle Busch will pilot the No. 51 Toyota Tundra when the Truck Series resumes action March 4 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. Live coverage of the Active Pest Control 200 begins with the NCWTS Setup Show at 4 p.m. ET.
