Ruggiero on Daytona Finish: We Need Improvement | [Team/Series Name]

Ruggiero Reflects on Daytona Runner-Up, Eyes Triple Duty Weekend

February 13, 2026 – Gio Ruggiero is looking for improvement after finishing second in the NASCAR Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday evening, marking his second consecutive top-two finish at the track. The Toyota Development Driver battled Chandler Smith in a dramatic green-white-checkered finish but ultimately came up short of his second career win.

“It was tight there at the end of the race,” Ruggiero said, according to a post-race recap from Toyota Racing. “Everybody was just trying to do whatever it takes to win and that’s what I did for myself and my team.”

The 22-year-old Ruggiero led a strong showing for Toyota in the Truck Series race, with four Tundra trucks finishing in the top ten. Cup Series driver John Hunter Nemechek finished fifth, while Kaden Honeycutt was eighth and veteran Stewart Friesen, making his return to the series after an injury, secured a tenth-place finish.

This weekend represents a particularly busy schedule for Ruggiero, as he is also slated to compete in both the ARCA and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Daytona. This marks his debut in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at the iconic speedway, according to a preview from Speedway Digest.

Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has a strong history at Daytona International Speedway, with 136 cumulative starts over 27 years. JGR drivers have secured five wins, 35 top-five finishes, 57 top-ten results, 10 pole awards, and have led a total of 796 laps. Notable drivers who have taken JGR entries to victory lane at Daytona include Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth, and Ryan Truex.

Last season, Taylor Gray achieved the team’s best finish at Daytona, securing a fifth-place result in the spring race. The 2025 season was a period of transition for JGR in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with all three full-time drivers being new to the lineup compared to the previous year. Despite the changes, the team had a successful campaign, earning six wins, 28 top-five finishes, 52 top-ten results, six pole awards, and leading 891 laps across ten drivers.

The season culminated in a championship victory for the No. 19 team, securing JGR’s seventh NOAPS Owner’s Title. William Sawalich had a notable rookie season in the NOAPS series in 2025, achieving three top-five finishes and nine top-ten results, and earning a pole award at Nashville Superspeedway.

Looking ahead, the NASCAR Truck Series will continue its superspeedway racing schedule next Saturday at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway. Ruggiero’s performance at Daytona demonstrates his growing potential in the series, and his triple-duty weekend will be a significant test of his versatility and endurance.