Chandler Smith storms from 10th to win the Truck season opener at Daytona, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. charges from 30th to an impressive P6 finish.
Season Opener Under the Lights
The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series kicked off in dramatic fashion at Daytona International Speedway, and it was Chandler Smith in the No. 38 who stole the show. Starting from the 10th position, Smith methodically worked his way through the pack across both stages before putting himself in position for the win in the closing laps.
How the Race Unfolded
Pole-sitter Ty Majeski in the No. 88 set the early pace and looked strong throughout, collecting stage points in both stages — finishing seventh in Stage 1 and third in Stage 2. Majeski's consistency would carry him to a solid P4 result, but the night ultimately belonged to Smith.
Christian Eckes in the No. 91 also had a quietly impressive run, racking up stage finishes of third and seventh before ending the night in P3. Eckes showed the kind of steady, points-accumulating performance that fantasy managers love to see.
The real story of the first half was the stage battle. Smith captured Stage 2 outright, while John H. Nemechek in the No. 62 flexed his muscle by leading 10 laps through the middle portions of the race. Nemechek eventually settled into P5, a solid result but one that left speed on the table.
The Charger of the Night
Keep an eye on Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the No. 45. The Cup Series veteran rolled off 30th on the grid and sliced his way through the entire field to finish P6. That 24-position gain is exactly the kind of differential that wins fantasy weeks. Meanwhile, Brenden Queen in the No. 12 pulled off a similar feat from 22nd to seventh.
Newcomer Watch
Giovanni Ruggiero in the No. 17 announced himself with a P2 finish in the season opener. The young gun ran near the front all night and showed poise beyond his experience level on the sport's most unpredictable track.
By the Numbers
| Driver | Start | Finish | Laps Led | Fantasy Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler Smith #38 | 10th | 1st | 8 | 65.8 |
| Giovanni Ruggiero #17 | — | 2nd | — | — |
| Christian Eckes #91 | — | 3rd | — | — |
| Ty Majeski #88 | 1st | 4th | — | — |
| John H. Nemechek #62 | — | 5th | 10 | — |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr #45 | 30th | 6th | — | — |
Fantasy Takeaways
- Smith is a reliable top-tier play — he doesn't need the pole to dominate. His 65.8 fantasy points set the bar for Week 1.
- Stenhouse is a sneaky value pick in Trucks. Starting deep in the field and finishing P6 means massive place-differential points at a low salary.
- Eckes is the model of consistency. Two top-seven stage finishes plus a P3 result — that's bankable production.
- Queen from 22nd to 7th is the kind of deep-roster gem fantasy managers need to track going forward.
- Daytona is always chaotic, but the cream still rose to the top. Watch for these names to keep producing as the series heads to Atlanta.