The 2018 NextEra Energy Resources 250 was the first stock car race of the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, and the 19th iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, February 16, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida at Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangle-shaped superspeedway racetrack. The race would take 100 laps to complete. In a wreck filled race, Johnny Sauter driving for GMS Racing would survive and hold off the field to win the race.[1] To fill out the podium, Justin Haley of GMS Racing and Joe Nemechek, driving for his own team NEMCO Motorsports would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 1 of 23 of the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series | |||
 | |||
| Date | February 16 | ||
| Official name | NextEra Energy Resources 250 | ||
| Location | Daytona Beach, Florida, Daytona International Speedway | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility 2.5 mi (4.0 km) | ||
| Distance | 100 laps, 250 mi (402.336 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 100 laps, 250 mi (402.336 km) | ||
| Average speed | 120.385 miles per hour (193.741 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Kyle Busch Motorsports | ||
| Time | 49.017 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | |
| Laps | 39 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 21 | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | Fox Sports 1 | ||
| Announcers | Vince Welch, Phil Parsons, Michael Waltrip | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
The race was the debut for Bo LeMastus and Jordan Anderson Racing.[2]
Background
Background
Daytona International Speedway is one of two superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the other being Talladega Superspeedway.[3] The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long.[4] The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.[4]
Entry list
†In partnership with MB Motorsports.[5]
Practice
1st practice
The first practice was held on Thursday, February 15 at 1:00 PM EST. Grant Enfinger of ThorSport Racing would set the fastest time in practice with a 46.867 and an average speed of 192.033 miles per hour (309.047 km/h).[6]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 98 | Grant Enfinger | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 46.867 | 192.033 |
| 2 | 21 | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 46.932 | 191.767 |
| 3 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 46.959 | 191.657 |
| Full 1st practice results | ||||||
2nd practice
The second practice was held on Thursday, February 15 at 3:32 PM EST. Ben Rhodes of ThorSport Racing would set the fastest time in practice with a 46.657 and an average speed of 192.897 miles per hour (310.438 km/h).[7]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 41 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 46.657 | 192.897 |
| 2 | 24 | Justin Haley | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 46.855 | 192.082 |
| 3 | 21 | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 47.025 | 191.388 |
| Full second practice results | ||||||
3rd and final practice
The third and final practice was held on Thursday, February 15 at 5:28 PM EST. Johnny Sauter of GMS Racing would set the fastest time in practice with a 49.397 and an average speed of 182.197 miles per hour (293.218 km/h).[8]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 49.397 | 182.197 |
| 2 | 68 | Clay Greenfield | Clay Greenfield Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49.410 | 182.149 |
| 3 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 49.596 | 181.466 |
| Full final practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, February 16 at 5:49 PM EST. Qualifying was held in two rounds, both consisting of two lap runs. The first round included every driver, and the second would take the 12 fastest qualifiers from the first round and make them run another two lap run; whoever was fastest won the pole. David Gilliland driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports would run the fastest time in both rounds and win the pole, with a time of 49.017 and an average speed of 183.610 miles per hour (295.492 km/h) in the second round.[9]
Bobby Gerhart, Josh Reaume, Cody Ware, and B. J. McLeod would all fail to qualify.
Qualifying results
Race
Pre-race ceremonies
Race recap
Post-race driver comments
Race results
Stage 1 Laps: 20
Stage 2 Laps: 20
Stage 3 Laps: 60