What channel is the NASCAR Truck Series at Daytona on today? Start time, TV info and key storylines
The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series fires up under the lights at Daytona International Speedway tonight with the Fresh From Florida 250. While rain questions swirl around Sunday’s Daytona 500, the trucks are set for a timely green flag and prime-time superspeedway drama.
How to watch: channel and start time
The Fresh From Florida 250 is scheduled for 7: 30 p. m. ET on Friday, Feb. 13. The race will air nationally on FS1. Streaming is available through participating pay-TV authentication and live TV streaming services that carry FS1.
Race setup: laps, distance and format
Expect a classic Daytona pack race over 100 laps on the 2. 5-mile tri-oval, totaling 250 miles. The entry list features 44 drivers, a deep field for an opener that traditionally blends full-time contenders with one-off superspeedway specialists. Tight drafting lines, pit-road discipline and manufacturer alliances will set the tone, with the inevitable late-race scramble a constant threat to upset even the best-laid strategies.
Last year’s chaos lingers over the finish
Daytona’s 2025 truck finish remains a talking point. The race ended under caution after a last-lap crash with Parker Kligerman ahead of Corey Heim at the moment of the yellow. Post-race inspection reshuffled the result, elevating Heim to the victory — a springboard to an eventual Truck Series championship. Heim now advances to the NASCAR Cup Series this season and has secured a spot in Sunday’s Daytona 500, underscoring how a strong Daytona trucks run can accelerate a driver’s trajectory.
Headliners in the field
The opener brings a notable infusion of star power. Four Cup Series names are slated to race tonight: Carson Hocevar, John Hunter Nemechek, and former Daytona 500 winners Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Their presence adds experience to the lead draft and complicates the playbook for full-time Truck contenders eyeing early points and momentum.
History is also in play. Toni Breidinger looks to convert her superspeedway savvy into a breakthrough, aiming to become the first woman to take a checkered flag in a NASCAR national series race. Meanwhile, Frankie Muniz returns to Daytona, the site of his first Truck Series top-10 last season, seeking to build on that superspeedway foundation.
Travis Pastrana returns — and brings a cause
Fans will see Travis Pastrana back at Daytona on Friday night, this time in the Truck Series opener rather than the 500. The action-sports icon reenters the draft with a higher purpose attached: a $100, 000 charitable push alongside partners to benefit the Boot Campaign, which supports veterans and military families through programs focused on mental health, housing and financial wellness. Part-time Truck racer and content creator Cleetus McFarland is part of the effort, amplifying the grassroots energy that often surrounds the series’ superspeedway curtain-raiser.
Weather and weekend context
While Sunday’s 500 still faces weather watch, tonight’s forecast calls for cooperative conditions and a full-distance race under the lights. Expect teams to use early portions to gauge handling in the pack, then position aggressively through the final fuel window. The Daytona 500 remains on the calendar for 2: 30 p. m. ET Sunday, providing a weekend backdrop that will keep attention fixed on how the trucks race, wreck and rally — and which teams leave with intact equipment and much-needed momentum.
Bottom line: the NASCAR Truck Series at Daytona delivers equal parts craft and chaos. With a deep, eclectic field and a clean weather window, the season’s first checkered flag could come down to one bold move, one perfectly timed shove — or one split-second reaction when the line breaks apart.
