NASCAR Truck Series: Daytona Lap Data Analysis
The analysis of the NASCAR Truck Series race at Daytona shows a highly competitive event with significant lead changes and a late-race charge by the winner. The data highlights the unique nature of superspeedway racing where raw speed and laps led don't always guarantee a trip to victory lane.
Race Summary
- Winner: Chandler Smith (#38 Ford, Front Row Motorsports)
- Total Laps: 102
- Total Finishers: 35
- Caution Laps: 24 (approx. 23.5% of the race)
Top 5 Finishers
| Finish Position | Driver Name | Team | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chandler Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 2 | Giovanni Ruggiero | TRICON Garage | Toyota |
| 3 | Christian Eckes | McAnally Hilgemann Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Ty Majeski | ThorSport Racing | Ford |
| 5 | John Hunter Nemechek | Halmar Friesen Racing | Toyota |
Hidden Stories & Statistical Callouts
The "Hard Charger" Award: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the biggest mover of the night. After starting deep in the field at 30th, he sliced through the pack to finish 6th, gaining a massive 24 positions.
The "Heartbreak" Stat: Michael McDowell and Justin Haley were dominant forces, each leading 20 laps. However, Daytona's volatility was unkind; McDowell finished 24th and Haley 22nd, the highest lap leaders to finish outside the Top 20.
The "Mainstay": While he finished 4th, Ty Majeski was the most present driver at the front, spending 87% of the race (89 of 102 laps) inside the Top 10.
High-Stakes Volatility: Christian Eckes was the "busiest" driver, recording 280 position changes throughout the race, indicating a constant shuffle through the draft before securing his 3rd place finish.
Manufacturer Tug-of-War: Despite the Ford victory, Chevrolet dominated the lead for the longest duration with 41 combined laps led. Toyota proved the most efficient "pack hunters" with the best average finish of 12.4.
The "Daytona Drop": Carson Hocevar suffered the toughest luck. After starting 4th, he ended the night in 35th, a drop of 31 positions.
Visual Insights
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1. Running Position History
The chart shows the top 3 finishers' progress. Note how the winner, Chandler Smith, maintained a steady position before making a late-race push. -
2. Laps Led Analysis
A visualization of the drivers who spent the most time at the front of the pack, highlighting the disparity between leading laps and final finishing position. -
3. Manufacturer Speed Distribution
The box plot illustrates the lap speed distribution across different manufacturers, showing the tight drafting packs common at Daytona. -
4. Average Speed Over Time
This trend line tracks how the pack speed fluctuated throughout the race, impacted by cautions and drafting dynamics.
