High Sierra Photo

Mark Martin kicked off his NASCAR Speedweek with a resounding victory in Friday night's GM FlexFuel 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.  Martin started from the pole and led six times including the final 14 laps on his way to his second career NCTS win.

Martin kicked out to the lead, but it was not long lived as he was forced to share the top spot with eight other drivers.  Several drivers, including Martin's Roush Racing teammate, rookie Erik Darnell, were able to poke the nose of their machine up front but we unable to cross the line in the lead to become an official leader of the race.

For much of the evening, the racing was intense but clean and relatively calm.  At times, the front of the field thinned out to just three trucks in a single file draft as they stretched their lead over the pack by upwards of three seconds.  But as is inevitable here at Daytona, trouble strikes and often sweeps up several other trucks.

The first caution of the race came out at lap 26 as Joey Miller got loose in turn four and slid into the inside wall off turn four, making light contact with the inside wall.  Miller was the only truck involved in that incident, but the next two incidents would sweep up several trucks.

On lap 42, Mike Bliss had the air sucked off the spoiler of his Chevrolet and he darted towards the outside wall.  As he fought to regain control, he caught up rookies Boston Reid and Kraig Kinser, and caught out an extremely strong Bill Lester.  Reid retired on the spot, while the others were able to continue in various states of disrepair, but were no longer a factor to win.

The dreaded "big one" broke out on lap 73 to bring out the third caution of the night.  Kraig Kinser had a tire go flat and bounced into the wall in turn three as the leaders were putting him a lap down.  In the aftermath, Aric Almirola ran over the back of Mike Wallace and launched his truck into the wall, with Brad Keselowski, Matt Crafton, Miller, and Kyle Krisiloff all caught up in the melee.

After the cautions, the racing got intense as the field wound down the laps.  Martin took the lead with 20 laps to go, but was quickly shuffled back as Mike Skinner and Jack Sprague took turns leading late.  Martin swept past with an outside move in turn three, and as Sprague and Skinner battled behind, Sprague made an incredible save after the wind sucked off the spoiler and he hit the apron.  As the field scrambled around him, David Reutinann and Brendan Gaughan got together coming off turn four to bring out the fourth caution of the night with just four laps to go.

The green-white-checkered finish was a non-starter as Ron Hornaday was tagged and sent sideways coming to the line, ensuring a caution flag finish.

Todd Bodine finished second, with Germain Racing teammate Ted Musgrave in third.  Mike Skinner was fourth and Martin's teammate Darnell was fifth.  Sprague hung on to finish sixth, with Bobby Hamilton, Jr in seventh, Rick Crawford in eighth, David Reutimann in ninth, and Terry Cook in tenth.

All drivers involved in the accidents were seen and released from the infield care center.

The NCTS moves on next to California Speedway for the California 200 next Friday night.