Austin Green emerged fastest in the ARCA Menards Series Daytona practice session, narrowly leading Saturday’s final day at Daytona International Speedway with a time of 49.202 seconds at 182.919 mph. The ARCA Menards Series Daytona Practice saw several contenders post remarkably close times, highlighting intense competition heading into the 2026 season opener.
Green Leads Field in Highly Competitive Session
Driving the No. 82 PRG Chevrolet, Austin Green claimed the fastest lap during the concluding day of annual pre-race practice at Daytona. His performance came by the slimmest of margins—only 0.002 seconds ahead of Cole Butcher, the reigning ASA STARS National Tour super late model champion in the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford. Butcher clocked a lap at 49.204 seconds and 182.912 mph, showing the depth of talent among this year’s front-runners.
Isaac Kitzmiller, the defending ARCA Menards Series East champion, impressed with a 49.217-second lap (182.864 mph) in his debut draft runs in the No. 79 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet, trailed closely by his father Jason Kitzmiller who posted a 49.230-second lap (182.815 mph) in the No. 97 entry. This father-son duo added to Saturday’s drama, as mere fractions of a second separated the top finishers.
Gio Ruggiero, a regular in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, was fifth fastest in the No. 18 JBL Toyota, registering 49.261 seconds at 182.700 mph. Spots six to ten featured Mini Tyrell in the No. 17 Cook Racing Technologies Chevrolet, Taylor Reimer with Spire Motorsports, Carson Brown piloting the No. 82B PRG Chevrolet, and Kimmel Racing teammates Nolan Wilson and Alli Owens in the No. 69 Ford entries.
Friday Sees Nitro Motorsports Dominate Early Speeds
Friday’s session was marked by Gus Dean setting the weekend’s outright fastest lap in the No. 25 Nitro Motorsports Toyota. Taking advantage of a tightly formed six-car draft, Dean clocked in at 48.744 seconds (184.638 mph), a commanding half-second ahead of Saturday’s best effort by Green. Most of the top seven weekend speeds were turned during Friday’s draft-heavy runs—a clear insight into how team dynamics and drafting impact overall lap times at Daytona.
Incidents and Debris Affect Weekend Flow
While Saturday ran smoothly with minimal delays due to track inspections and occasional debris, Friday saw two on-track incidents disrupt proceedings. Amber Balcaen endured a spin at the tri-oval after her left rear tire was punctured by debris, causing significant nose damage to her No. 24 Sigma Performance Services Ford. Although her primary car was sidelined for the weekend, Balcaen returned later using a backup vehicle.
Bob Martin also encountered difficulties when he lost control of his No. 52 Martin Racing Toyota exiting turn two, making light contact with the outside wall and damaging his car’s left rear. Thankfully, there were no injuries reported from either Friday crash, but the incidents highlighted the high-stakes nature of ARCA Menards Series Daytona practice as drivers acclimate to both speed and drafting in preparation for the main race.
Countdown to 2026 Daytona ARCA 200
The intense competition from the ARCA Menards Series Daytona Practice sets the tone for the upcoming 64th annual Daytona ARCA 200, scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Daytona International Speedway. The race will be broadcast live on FOX at noon Eastern Time, and fans can tune in via SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and select MRN Radio affiliates nationwide.
With proven talents like Austin Green, Gus Dean, the Kitzmiller family, and a strong roster of challengers, fans can anticipate tightly packed racing fueled by drafting strategy, teamwork, and the ever-present risk of incidents on superspeedways. For continuous updates, real-time timing, and scoring, ARCARacing.com and the official social media channels will provide comprehensive coverage as the season approaches its exhilarating start.
