So, you’re looking for the winner of the truck race tonight, right? Honestly, there’s a bit of a twist.
If you checked the calendar and saw today is Thursday, January 15, 2026, and you're wondering why the TV is quiet, here's the deal: there actually wasn't a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race tonight. I know, it's kinda confusing with all the hype going on right now. We are deep in the "silly season" of preparation, but the engines haven't officially fired for points just yet.
The real action is right around the corner. If you're looking for the last big winner, we have to look back at the 2025 finale where Corey Heim absolutely dominated to take the championship. But if you’re looking for "tonight’s" winner because you saw news breaking, you’re likely seeing the massive announcements coming out of the Daytona workshops.
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The Big News You Might Have Missed
While there wasn't a checkered flag tonight, there was a metaphorical one. Tony Stewart—yeah, "Smoke" himself—is officially returning to NASCAR. Kaulig Racing dropped the bombshell that Stewart will be driving the No. 25 Ram truck at the season opener.
Basically, the "winner" of tonight's news cycle is anyone who missed seeing Stewart in a NASCAR seat. He hasn't raced in a national series since 2016. Seeing him back in a Ram—which is also making its big return to the series for the first time since 2012—is a huge deal for the sport.
When is the actual first race?
You don't have to wait much longer. The Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Friday, February 13, 2026. Mark your calendars for 7:30 PM ET on FS1.
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Why the confusion tonight? Well, the series just announced a massive overhaul to the playoff format—bringing back "The Chase." They also just confirmed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will be making his Truck Series debut in that same Daytona race.
So, while no one took home a trophy tonight, the field for Daytona is finally set.
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What to Watch For Next
The 2026 season is going to be wild. With Ram back in the mix and legends like Stewart playing "free agent," the dynamic has completely shifted from the Toyota-heavy dominance we saw last year.
- The Return of Ram: Keep an eye on the Kaulig entries. They aren't just here to participate; they’ve brought in heavy hitters.
- The New Chase: NASCAR removed the "win-and-you're-in" and stage playoff points as of January 12, 2026. This means every single lap in the regular season just got way more stressful for these drivers.
- Rookie Watch: Watch out for the winner of the "Race for the Seat" reality show, who will be piloting the No. 14 truck this season.
If you were hoping to see a race tonight, you've got about four weeks of waiting left. But trust me, with the entry list looking the way it does for Daytona, it's going to be worth the wait.
Next Steps for Racing Fans:
To get ready for the actual season opener on February 13, you should check your local listings for the Daytona Speedweeks practice schedule. Practice sessions usually start the Tuesday before the race, and that's when we'll see if Tony Stewart still has that superspeedway magic in a truck. Keep an eye on the entry lists as more "free agent" drivers for the Kaulig No. 25 truck are expected to be named soon.