NextEra Energy Resources 250

The NextEra Energy Resources 250 is the first race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway and as of 2004 was held under the lights. Winners include Mike Wallace, Joe Ruttman, Robert Pressley, Rick Crawford, Carl Edwards, Bobby Hamilton, Mark Martin, Jack Sprague, Todd Bodine, Timothy Peters and Michael Waltrip.

The Camping World Truck Series does not run restrictor plates, devices used by the Nationwide Series & Sprint Cup cars to reduce horsepower & slow the cars down at Daytona and Talladega. However, a restrictor in the space, a "spacer plate", and aerodynamic disadvantages in the trucks compensate for the lack of a restrictor plate.

The inaugural running of the race in 2000 featured one of the most horrific wrecks in NASCAR history. Just past the halfway point of the race, Kurt Busch's truck made contact with Rob Morgan, turning him into Geoff Bodine's truck, sending Bodine careening airborne into the wall and catch fence just past the start-finish line. Bodine's truck burst into flames and flipped at least 10 times before coming to a stop toward Turn 1, causing a major wreck involving 14 trucks.^[1] Despite serious injuries, Bodine survived & raced again later that year in May at Richmond. Although this race is largely overshadowed by this wreck, it was truly exciting as Mike Wallace made the last lap pass on Joe Ruttman for the inaugural victory.

In 2001, Joe Ruttman was the first driver to win starting from pole position. He also won the pole the year before. Rookie Ricky Hendrick finished in second.

The 2003 race featured an exciting 3 wide finish on the final lap between Rick Crawford, defending Daytona winner Robert Pressley, and that year's eventual champion Travis Kvapil where the margin of victory was 0.027 seconds.^[2]

In early 2004, they announced that the race would move from Friday afternoon to Friday night and be run under the lights. Carl Edwards would go on to win the race and Travis Kvapil (In the #24 Toyota) finished second. Toyota's first truck race.

In the 2005 race, Kerry Earnhardt started from the pole, but finished in 35th due to an accident. Bobby Hamilton won from the 36th starting position, the farthest starting position for a driver to win.

Despite the 2006 General Motors sponsorship of the race, a Chevrolet has never won at Daytona; in 2006, the best finish for a Silverado was 13th. The overall best finish for Chevrolet was second place three times by Ricky Hendrick (2001),Travis Kvapil(2003) and Elliott Sadler(2011).

In 2007, another 3 wide finish between Travis Kvapil, Johnny Benson, and Jack Sprague who won the race; the margin of victory was 0.031 seconds (second closest finish). Sprague was the third driver to win from the pole.

The 2009 race was the first under the new sponsorship of Camping World. Todd Bodine won becoming the first driver to win back-to-back season opening truck races at the Daytona International Speedway; Kyle Busch finished second in both races. Also, Todd Bodine won the 2009 race without a sponsor. Six days after the race, fifth place finisher Ron Hornaday was docked 25 points and owner DeLana Harvick was docked 25 owner points as a penalty for illegal shocks used in the race. Crew chief Rick Ren was placed on probation and fined $5,000 because of the violations.

The 2011 running was held on the tenth anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500. Michael Waltrip, who won that infamous 500, pulled off a slingshot last lap pass on Elliott Sadler to win his first ever Camping World Truck race in a #15 truck, just like his Cup car number, and his brother Darrell in the broadcast booth once again. It would be one of the most emotional truck events in series history. Michael also became the 22nd driver to win in all of NASCAR's top 3 divisions (he also has 11 Nationwide wins and 4 Sprint Cup wins). However his truck failed post-race inspection because the right side of spoiler snapped, likewise the team was penalized, but kept the win since Waltrip was not running for points, under NASCAR's new rule of choosing one series to go for a championship.

Past winners

• 2001, 2003, 2006, & 2011: Race extended due to a Green-white-checker finish.

References

1. ^ http://youtube.com/watch?v=CWg_-NKRscQ YouTube video of Bodine's crash
2. ^ http://www.truckseries.com/photog/albums/hsp_03r01/normal_DAY12-5929.jpg Photo of three wide finish