With exciting races, Trucks put on a show at Daytona

When NASCAR announced plans to take its short-track-based pickup truck series to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway for the first time in 2000, not everybody was so sure that was a great idea. Three-time series champion Ron Hornaday called it crazy.

"When the Trucks first came here, I didn't get a chance to run it," Hornaday said. "But when I heard they were coming down, I thought they were nuts. It was the stupidest thing they've ever done with the Trucks."

By the Numbers

In 2003, Rick Crawford (14) edged Travis Kvapil (16) by .027 seconds for the closest Truck finish at Daytona. Crawford also holds another series distinction at Daytona.

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But after one of the most exciting races in Daytona's history -- which included a record number of lead changes, a frightening accident that sent Geoff Bodine to the hospital, and a trip to Victory Lane for Mike Wallace -- Hornaday changed his opinion.

"The following year, I got an opportunity with Ricky Hendrick, took a truck out of the showroom floor, came down here and didn't run 10 laps before I got out and praised Wayne [Auton, series director] and his team for what they've done to make these trucks so comfortable to drive around this speedway," he said.

And since then, nine different drivers have won the Daytona season opener, several by no more than the length of a bumper in three-wide finishes. And Friday night's NextEra Energy Resources 250 (7:30 p.m. ET, SPEED), which begins the Camping World Truck Series era, should be no exception.

"It's hard to believe it's been 10 years already," Auton said. "Everybody remembers the first race we had here because we put a little bit of excitement on. I think it was Mike Wallace who started the grandstand, middle-of-the-race break autograph session, which was pretty neat for the fans."

A little excitement might be an understatement. Twelve drivers led at least one lap in the 200 race, which included a pair of multi-truck wrecks before the big one on Lap 57. Rookie Kurt Busch tapped Rob Morgan, who sent Bodine's truck nearly head-on over the 4-foot high concrete wall, tearing out a large section of the catchfence and sending what remained of the vehicle cartwheeling back through the infield grass.

'I've never had a wreck like that in my life,'' Bodine said.

Bodine broke his ankle, wrist and cheekbone. A total of nine fans were injured by the debris, the most serious being a broken arm. And the race was halted while safety crews repaired the fence, giving Wallace and several other drivers a chance to sign autographs for fans. (Continued)