The victory was the 13th of Bodine's Craftsman Truck Series career and first at Daytona.

"I knew he wasn't going to turn me or anything like that and if he couldn't get to the outside and have Johnny (Benson) go with him, I knew I was ok," said Bodine from Victory Lane.

Erik Darnell brought the field to the green flag to start the 100-lap event and the 14th season of truck racing. They quickly lined up behind Darnell and the top-six cars put a gap between themselves and the field. He kept the lead until the first pit stop on lap 11 after a caution flag.

Jason White, Mike Skinner and Ron Hornaday Jr. all took right-side tires only and beat the pole sitter off pit lane. White lasted less than one corner before the two champions teamed up together and flew past White.

It was lap 19 when all hell broke loose off of turn two. At least eight trucks, including a championship contender in Skinner, got caught in the melee. It appeared to start when Busch and Skinner got together. Skinner got turned up the track, hit the wall, and collected those behind who had no where to go.

The race was red-flagged to clean up the multi-car incident. When the dust had cleared and pit stops had been made, Bodine led Darnell into turn one. They lasted three quarters of a lap until Mike Bliss and Joey Clanton slammed each other and with drivers so close, collected more innocent drivers in the accident.

One of those caught up in the second incident was rookie Colin Braun who had run in the top-10 for most of the race.

It was another long delay and the race didn't restart until lap 34. Off of the green flag they quickly went into single file formation and settled into a rhythm. There were just 25 trucks left on the track, but there was still a lot of close racing.

On lap 44, Hornaday Jr. began to smoke and the defending champion slowed and pulled off the track.

Bodine led the race at the halfway point, but he was struggling with his handling and it was just a matter of time before a group got together to overtake Bodine. Darnell, with help from Justin Marks, did just that, taking the lead on lap 52.

Busch was sitting in third, but when he tried to pull out and make a pass, no one went with him and he faded all the way back to eighth before he could get back into line.

The lead trucks were staying single file and Darnell was still the leader with 30 laps remaining. Johnny Benson and Rick Crawford tried to start a charge on the outside, but could only get to fourth before being forced back into line.

Darnell continued to hug the bottom of the track and no one wanted to take a chance on the high side as the laps dwindled to 20.

The leaders all pitted on lap 85 and Bodine beat Darnell off pit lane for the lead of those who had made their final stop. One lap later Darnell, felt a vibration and was slowing down when he and Marks collided to bring out another caution flag.

The race would restart with nine laps to go and Bodine leading Benson and Busch to the green flag. The top-five trucks broke away from the rest. Then Benson went to the outside, but when Busch stayed low with Bodine, Benson faded all the back to eighth.

Seven laps to go and it was Bodine and Busch on the bottom and with David Starr and Stacy Compton on the outside making a run. By lap 95 Benson was back to third and moving up.

The white flag and it was still Bodine, Busch and Benson. Bodine got about three lengths ahead as they turned for home and he held off a late rush by Busch and Benson for the win. The No.30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota led a total of 49 laps.

"I let Todd get out a little too far," said Busch.

David Starr and Crawford completed the top-five.

The next race is scheduled for Saturday, February 23rd at the California Speedway.