It’s Speed Week and Daytona International Raceway is hosting several major auto racing series to kick off their seasons. NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series featured repeat winners from 2022. And an underdog finished first in the ARCA race.

NASCAR XFINITY RACE

The most exciting race, so far, was the Xfinity Series race. Coming to the checkers, Sam Mayer decided to challenge his teammate Austin Hill for the win. In the end, Mayer lost control of his car leading to the big one and Mayer flipping over. As the caution was thrown on the final lap, NASCAR had to go to a replay and a still photo to determine who was in first place at the point of caution: Hill, John Hunter Nemechek or Justin Allgaier. In the end, Hill was ahead by inches giving him the lead and the win. It’s Hill’s second consecutive win in the season opener. It’s also a nice consolation prize for Hill who missed qualifying for the Daytona 500 by one position in the Duel at Daytona.

NASCAR CRAFSTMAN TRUCK RACE

The truck series welcomed a familiar name to the circuit. Craftsman returned as the series sponsor for the first time since 2008. The trucks kicked off the weekend Friday night with a rain shortened affair. It was the typical Daytona racing NASCAR fans are accustomed to seeing. The drivers were trying to beat the rain, but unfortunately, the skies opened up with 27 laps to go forcing NASCAR to call the season opener early. When the rains came, defending series champion and defending race winner Zane Smith was in first place securing another win at Daytona. Unlike Hill, Smith will be racing Sunday in the Daytona 500 as he managed to qualify in his Duel at Daytona race.

ARCA RACE

In between the Craftsman Truck race and the Xfinity race, the stars of the ARCA Menards Series took the track for their season opener. ARCA is featuring a celebrity driver this year as Frankie Muniz, most famous for starring as Malcolm in the sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle,” has begun his racing career in the ARCA Series. While Muniz may have grabbed the headlines going into the race, it was a seasoned short track veteran who came up big. Greg Van Alst refused to settle for second place and managed to secure enough of the draft in turn three to take the lead and hold off the win.

It was the first ARCA Series win for the 41-year-old. Van Alst’s team has struggled to secure sponsorship this season, and he isn’t sure if he’ll be able to run in the next race of the season at Phoenix. Either way, he has an ARCA win to his name.

DAYTONA 500 PREVIEW

If the three earlier races this weekend are any indication, Sunday’s Daytona 500 is going to be wild. Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson share the front row. Joey Logano and Aric Almirola have already been to victory lane in the Duels. Who will win? Could we see a repeat winner in all three NASCAR series? That would mean Austin Cindric winning again. He would also meet the underdog qualification set by Greg Van Alst. Sunday is going to be fun.

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