DAYTONA BEACH — Two of the biggest stars in the Fresh from Florida 250 were knocked out early at Daytona International Speedway.
After a Stage 1 wreck ended YouTube sensation Cleetus McFarland’s night on Friday, Feb. 13, racing legend Tony Stewart parked after a crash late in Stage 2. He made his first NASCAR start in a decade — and first Truck Series start since 2005 — in the No. 25 Kaulig Ram.
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Jake Garcia slid into Stewart and squeezed him into the wall, which brought out the second caution of the race on Lap 36 and sent Stewart to the pits. He suffered damage, but it looked fixable enough for him to continue.
But because he wasn’t racing for points during his one-off appearance, the team decided to head to the garages.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 13: Tony Stewart, driver of the #25 Ram RAM, drives during qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
“It was starting to get fun where we could at least get up there and mix it up a little bit and get into the middle of that stuff,” Stewart said afterward on the TV broadcast. “Not sure what happened underneath us. Just cuts across the nose. But just part of it.”
Stewart was evaluated and quickly released from the infield care center.
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Would he want to do this again?
“I don’t know,” the 54-year-old said. “I didn’t think I was going to be here 10 years after I retired, so I think we have to learn to never say never. But yeah, it’s a great opportunity. I’m so appreciative.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Tony Stewart’s NASCAR return ends early after Daytona Truck race crash
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