Dawson Sutton came into Daytona with momentum and optimism. After clocking the eighth-fastest time in mid-week practice, the 20-year-old from Lebanon looked poised to kick off his sophomore season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on a high note. But as often happens under the lights at Daytona, things didn’t go according to plan.
With just laps remaining in Friday night’s Fresh From Florida 250, Sutton’s night took a sharp turn. Caught in a four-truck spin, he was forced to settle for a 27th-place finish in the 37-truck field - a frustrating result after showing early-week speed.
“It’s frustrating to get taken out like that,” Sutton said after the race. “But that’s part of racing. You put it behind you and go on to the next one.”
That’s the mindset you need in this sport - especially at a place like Daytona, where the margin between a top-10 finish and a wrecked truck can be measured in inches and milliseconds. Sutton wasn’t the only one caught in the chaos. Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, making a rare appearance, also exited early after being collected in a spin triggered by Jake Garcia.
“It gets pretty wild back there,” Sutton said, describing the three-wide, bumper-to-bumper racing at speeds north of 175 mph. “Things happen fast.”
Veteran driver Clay Greenfield, representing Clarksville, managed to steer clear of the mayhem and brought his Backyard Blues Pools/Lure Chevrolet home in 18th - a clean, steady run in a race that saw its fair share of carnage.
Meanwhile, Sutton’s teammate at Rackley WAR, Toni Breidinger, was slated to make her Truck Series debut. But the model-turned-racer didn’t make the starting grid after failing to qualify inside the top 31. It was a tough break in what was supposed to be a milestone weekend for her.
For Sutton, the night was a reminder of just how unforgiving superspeedway racing can be. After finishing 25th in last year’s Daytona opener, he was hoping to build on what he called a “learning experience.” And while the result didn’t reflect the progress he’s made, there were still signs of growth - especially in how he handled the aftermath.
One area the team continues to focus on is qualifying - a challenge that carried over from last season. Sutton started 20th on Friday after falling short of his practice pace, a position that left him mired in the pack and vulnerable to the chaos that eventually ended his night.
“We’re working hard to improve on it,” Sutton said.
The good news? There's a long season ahead - 25 races in total - and plenty of time for Sutton and his team to find their rhythm.
Next up is Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 21, a track that presents a very different challenge from Daytona’s high-speed draft fest. And come May 29, Sutton will get a chance to race close to home when the series rolls into Nashville Superspeedway.
One race down, lessons learned, and eyes forward. That’s how you build a season - one lap, one adjustment, one bounce-back at a time.