Noah Gragson shared his thoughts on a tumultuous Daytona event as he and his Front Row Motorsports teammates prepare for the next challenge at Darlington. The Noah Gragson Daytona race report highlights the unpredictability of the race, the challenges faced by each driver, and the team‘s determination to build on the season‘s lessons.
Todd Gilliland Looks Ahead After Strong Daytona Showing
Todd Gilliland delivered a performance that had him in contention throughout critical stages of the Daytona race. He finished the first stage in seventh and ultimately crossed the line in eleventh place, even as his hopes for a better result were dashed late in the day. Gilliland acknowledged the team‘s effort and their results, setting a positive tone heading into Darlington.
“Tough way to end the regular season, I thought we had a shot to win but it didn’t pan out the way we hoped,”
said Gilliland.
“While it’s not the ending we wanted, I’m still proud of this No. 34 team. We showed up with a fast Grillo’s Pickles Ford and left with a result we can build off of heading into Darlington.”
—Todd Gilliland, Driver
Zane Smith Faces Frustration After Early Incident
Zane Smith encountered misfortune from the outset at Daytona, placing thirty-second in the opening stage and ultimately finishing thirty-first. His ambitions of breaking into the playoffs faded early after being caught up in a major collision, which blocked any chances of making a late push. Despite the setback, Smith remains focused on closing out the remaining races of the season with determination.
“Just more tough luck,” said Smith.
“Fast car, thought we could have a shot to win our way into the playoffs, and never got the chance to show it after being clipped by the 48 in that first big one. Is what it is, and we’ll try to finish out these last 10 races strong.”
—Zane Smith, Driver
Noah Gragson Finds Silver Lining in Difficult Daytona Result
Noah Gragson’s Daytona race ended early after being caught in a multi-car incident within the first thirty laps. Gragson, who started deep in the field, had already moved up near the top ten before being forced out as the pack became too aggressive. Although finishing thirty-eighth was a disappointment, Gragson expressed pride in his team’s attitude and work, and he is eager to rebound at Darlington, where he expects to have more influence over the outcome.
“We’re only on lap 27, 28 and there are guys trying to make it four-wide at the front of the pack. I was just collateral damage at that point,”
said Gragson.
“It’s definitely a bummer, but I’m still super proud of our team. We started almost towards the back, 32nd I think, and we were up in the top 10 20 laps in, so it’s not from a lack of effort. I just really appreciate everybody at Front Row Motorsports. We’re looking on to Darlington. It’s more in our control and look to have a strong run there.”
—Noah Gragson, Driver
Anticipation Builds for Darlington
Following the unpredictable Daytona weekend, all three Front Row Motorsports drivers — Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith, and Noah Gragson — have shifted their focus to Darlington’s more controlled racing environment. The team aims to translate lessons from Daytona’s chaos into positive momentum for the remainder of the NASCAR season, with hopes high for improvements as the playoffs continue to develop.
