AUDIO/RECAP: Drafting Dominance; Doug Roth Scores Season Opening Outlaw Truck Win at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Recap by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — LSRTV audio — Keith Brooks Jr./iRacing.com photo —

With a new build, a new drafting model and a horde of unknowns heading into the return of the =RSR= Outlaw Truck Series, it was unclear who would stand on the top step of the podium Wednesday night at Daytona International Speedway.

Once the Duel at Daytona hit halfway, however, Doug Roth made a statement that he would not be denied his moment in the spotlight — and he wasn’t.

Roth took the lead from Matt LaCross on a lap 40 restart and never gave the top spot up after that — pacing the final 36 laps to take his first career Outlaw Truck checkered flag and second overall =RSR= victory.

Despite a last-ditch move coming off turn four to the checkered flag from his Wolfpack teammate Stefan Marinak, Roth was able to roll the bottom and lay claim to top honors by 0.04 seconds — the closest finish in Outlaw Truck Series history.

“It was a total team effort tonight,” Roth said in Gatorade Victory Lane. “Just really pleased and proud to be a part of it — this is my first-ever =RSR= broadcasted win, second in total, but it’s one I’m going to remember for a long time.”

Marinak crossed the line second but said he didn’t have enough time at the end to get fully alongside his teammate and challenge for the win.

“I’m just happy to finish one of these races in one piece,” Marinak said. “With Doug being my teammate, I was trying my best to push him out front, and I’m happy with second. I just went to the outside to block Matt there at the end. It’s a solid night for us.”

LaCross finished third, with Dan Murray and Rett McBride rounding out the top five — a lockout of the front five finishing positions by =RSR= Full Throttle Cup Series regulars.

Bobby Whetsel came home sixth, followed by Joey Gattina and Chad Cole. Polesitter Sean Boundy, who led the first 18 laps of the race, was shuffled back and finished ninth. Brock Hopkins completed the top ten at the end of the night.

The race was slowed by four cautions for 16 laps — with three of the four incidents being the major multi-car pileups that Daytona is known for.

The first caution flew at lap 22 when Brennan Mercer was going for the lead in turn one; Cody Gibson got Mercer squirrelly with a push in the center of the corner and ultimate hooked the No. 29, turning Mercer into the pack and sparking a 13-car melee that collected the likes of L.D. Sarabia and Johnathon Caddell in its wake.

“Big One” No. 2 — the third caution overall in the event — occurred at lap 46 after the No. 5 of Scott Granberg triggered a five-car mess that damaged the cars of John Abbott, Mark Bratcher and C.J. LaVair and ended their hopes for a Truck victory.

The final yellow flew on lap 57 when the No. 15 of Dan Murray made contact with Gibson’s machine, sending Gibson careening up the track and collecting multiple cars in turn four — Kevin Linden, Nathan Little and Bryan Harvey all retired from the race as a result.

That final crash set up a 13-lap dash to the finish, but it was all smooth sailing for Roth and the famed No. 43 — as he did proud a number that carried Richard Petty to ten victories at the World Center of Racing, including seven Daytona 500 crowns.

The =RSR= Outlaw Truck Series returns to action in two weeks’ time for round two of their eight-race season, the Pure Michigan 160, on March 25 at the Michigan International Speedway.

Audio with race winner Doug Roth: