Venue | Daytona International Speedway |
---|---|
Location | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States |
Corporate sponsor | NextEra Energy Resources |
First race | 2000 |
Distance | 250 miles (400 km) |
Laps | 100 (Stage 1: 20 Stage 2: 20 Stage 3: 60) |
Previous names |
Daytona 250 (2000) Florida Dodge Dealers 250 (2001–2005) GM Flex Fuel 250 (2006) Chevy Silverado HD 250 (2007–2008) |
Most wins (driver) | Todd Bodine and Johnny Sauter (2) |
Most wins (team) | Bobby Hamilton Racing (3) |
Most wins (manufacturer) | Toyota (8) |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) |
Turns | 4 |
The NextEra Energy Resources 250 is the first race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway and as of 2004 has been held under the lights. It is the Camping World Truck Series event of Speedweeks – the name used to describe the series of races leading up to the Daytona 500. Winners include Mike Wallace, Joe Ruttman, Robert Pressley, Rick Crawford, Carl Edwards, Bobby Hamilton, Mark Martin, Jack Sprague, Todd Bodine, Timothy Peters, Michael Waltrip, John King, Johnny Sauter, Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, and Kaz Grala.
The Camping World Truck Series does not run restrictor plates, devices used by the Xfinity and Sprint Cup stock cars to reduce horsepower and slow the cars down at Daytona and Talladega. However, a restrictor in the space, a "spacer plate", and aerodynamic disadvantages in the trucks compensate for the lack of a restrictor plate.
The inaugural running of the race in 2000 featured one of the most horrific wrecks in NASCAR history. Just past the halfway point of the race, Kurt Busch's truck made contact with Rob Morgan, turning him into Geoff Bodine's truck, sending Bodine careening airborne into the wall and catch fence just past the start-finish line. Bodine's truck burst into flames and flipped at least 10 times before coming to a stop toward Turn 1, causing a major wreck involving 13 trucks. Despite serious injuries, Bodine survived and raced again later that year in May at Richmond. Although this race is largely overshadowed by this wreck, it was truly exciting as Mike Wallace made the last lap pass on Andy Houston for the inaugural victory.