Under the lights at Daytona, the NEP SuperTrucks Series roared to life for the YRD Designs 60, as 34 eager drivers lined up to start their season with a bang. Last week’s duels gave a preview of the competition, with Cory Casagrande and Ryan Libby securing wins, and Ryan Messer claiming the pole with a top qualifying time. With 60 laps ahead, Daytona’s high-speed drafting dynamics quickly took center stage as Libby claimed the lead off the first lap. Messer stayed close behind, displaying early teamwork as the field shuffled, each driver hunting for an early edge.
Throughout the opening laps, the trucks formed tightly packed lines, with many trying to find the best drafting partners. Two-wide racing filled the majority of the field, while some dared to test the outside line, hoping to build momentum and challenge the leaders. Pit strategy was already on everyone’s mind, as drivers planned stops that would cover the maximum 28 laps on fuel. The early green-flag pit cycle, just before the race’s halfway mark, saw drivers diving into pit road in groups, with some pushing their limits and others looking to stay safe. A few trucks faced tough moments as the action on pit road led to quick repairs, hoping to salvage their night with the help of drafting packs on return.
As the laps counted down, competition intensified, and the infamous “big one” loomed in the minds of the leaders. Brent Roy and Brandon Yuhouse, both setting an impressive pace, found themselves fighting hard to maintain the top spot with powerful pushes from the trucks behind. The commentators, well aware of Daytona’s reputation, predicted a major crash would likely hit before the white flag. It wasn’t long before the inevitable happened; in a shocking incident on a late-race restart, a nudge from John Peters sent Roy spinning into the outside wall, setting off a chain reaction that took out multiple trucks. Roy’s misshift in the intense draft was to blame, causing the trucks behind him to accordion and creating a pileup that changed the race’s final laps.
This restart shook up the front order and positioned veteran drivers like Peters, Libby, and Evan Bohr as top contenders with only a few laps remaining. With a fresh green flag signaling a green-white-checkered finish, Bohr found himself in the best possible position on the outside lane. As they roared down the backstretch for the final time, Bohr received a huge push from Stephen Daddio, surging him ahead just enough to hold off the pack charging behind him. Bohr crossed the line with a narrow win, celebrating a long-anticipated Daytona victory and marking himself as the season’s first champion in dramatic style.
For the fans, this NEP SuperTrucks season opener delivered the best of Daytona’s high stakes and close finishes, leaving everyone ready for the next chapter as the series rolls on.