John King, driver of the #7 Red Horse Racing Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 23, 2012
Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The Trucks will be back in action this Friday at the Daytona International Speedway when they hit the high banks for the NextEra Energy Resources 250. Many new and young faces are entered in the race and they will look to start their season off on a high note. A few returning drivers will also be back and looking to build on their 2012 performance. The Truck race this Friday is sure to be a wild one and it will be a great kick-off to the Truck Series season.

The NextEra Energy Resources 250 will go green on Friday February 22, 2013 at 7:30 PM EST. The race will feature 100 laps and 250 miles. Each lap will surely count this Friday because to be there at the end, you’ll need to remain in the pack on every lap. The weather forecast for Friday night looks mostly cloudy with a high of 82 F and a low of 62 F with a 10% chance of rain. The race will be broadcasted on SPEED and on the radio on MRN. This will be the first race of the 2013 season and everyone will look to get a head start on the chase for the championship.

The 2012 NextEra Energy Resources 250 featured some wild racing including multiple big wrecks and a lot of torn up trucks. John King won the race becoming the first of nine first time winners in the 2012 Truck Series season. King will be in Friday night’s race and he will be competing in the No.33 truck for Eddie Sharp Racing. Likely the most memorable moment from the 2012 race was when Joey Coulter’s truck got air-borne and slid against the catch fence before coming to a rest on the ground. Coulter will look to avoid doing that this season and attempt to end up in victory lane.

Many drivers have been entered in this race but, some won’t be competing for the full season. The Daytona Truck race is always a special one and therefore, it attracts a lot of racers. Notable drivers competing in this race that won’t be running for the championship this season include Tim George Jr. in the No.5 truck, Justin Lofton in the No.6 truck, Todd Bodine in the No.13 truck, Ryan Truex in the No.30 truck, Rick Crawford in the No.50 truck and Kyle Busch in the No.51 truck. Those drivers will look to upset the Truck regulars and take home the hardware. Another note worthy fact about the race is that this will be Darrell Wallace Jr.’s first race in a truck. He will be competing in the No.54 truck for Kyle Busch Motorsports. The field for Friday’s race is definitely a stacked one and all those drivers should put on a great show.

In my opinion, anyone will be able to win the race. With the drafting process that goes on at Daytona, anyone could get the right push and make it to the front when the checkered flag is in sight. Picking a driver that really hasn’t been super strong may not be a bad pick. Anyone will be able to win this race. The first Truck race of the season always happens to be the wildest one and Friday night’s race shouldn’t disappoint.

Event Schedule

12:10-1:00 PM EST (Thursday) Truck Series Practice, televised on SPEED

6:00-7:20 PM EST (Thursday) Truck Series Final Practice, televised on SPEED

1:40 PM EST (Friday) Truck Series Qualifying, televised on SPEED

7:30 PM EST (Friday) Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250, televised on SPEED

Next Race- 4/6 Kroger 250 at the Martinsville Speedway Martinsville, Virginia

Entry List via Jayski.com