Three days of NASCAR Jackson-Hewitt Preseason Thunder established Ford - in particular Roush Racing - as the truck to beat in this year's Chevy Silverado HD 250.

New lead driver Travis Kvapil, behind the wheel of last year's race-winning No. 6 Ford, topped every session, followed by Roush teammates Peter Shepherd (No. 50 Roush Racing Ford) and Erik Darnell (No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford).

The No. 50 will be driven this week by the race's 2004 winner Edwards.

Kvapil's best single truck lap was clocked at 50.180 seconds/179.354 mph.

Toyotas, led by AJ Allmendinger (No. 00 Red Bull Toyota), recorded the fourth through eighth fastest lap speeds.

Series Opens In The Sunshine State For 12th Straight Season

Just once - in the series' inaugural season - has the new year been kicked off outside the Sunshine State.

After the series' "birth" at Phoenix International Raceway in 1995, 12 season openers have been staged at three different Florida race tracks.

Drivers visited Homestead-Miami Speedway in 1996 and 1999 for a race that now serves as the season finale. Walt Disney World Speedway near Orlando opened the 1997-98 seasons. This week's Chevy Silverado HD 250 marks the eighth consecutive race at Daytona.

Two drivers - Mike Wallace and Joe Ruttman - are only double season-opening winners. Only Wallace has won back-to-back openers.