The 2025 NASCAR season kicked off in explosive fashion, with the Truck Series opener at Daytona delivering thrills, controversy, and heartbreak. In what seemed to be a storybook victory, Parker Kligerman initially took the checkered flag in the Fresh from Florida 250—but NASCAR had other plans.
Following a failed post-race inspection, Kligerman’s win was wiped from the record books, and Corey Heim was handed the victory, leaving fans and competitors stunned. But that wasn’t the only chaos of the night—just ask Rajah Caruth, who found himself on the bitter end of a Daytona disaster.
Rajah Caruth Caught in the “Big One”—A Heartbreaking End to a Strong Run
Daytona has never been kind to those who get caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Rajah Caruth learned that lesson the hard way in the final stage of the race.
The wreck that ended Caruth’s night began when Corey Heim attempted to make a third lane move, causing a check-up in the pack. This slight stack-up triggered a chain reaction, leading to Jack Wood (#91) losing control and slamming into the wall.
Unfortunately for Caruth, he was directly in the path of the wreck and had nowhere to go. His No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet was totaled, and his promising race came to a crushing end.
“I’m not sure that’s entirely what happened to cause the stack-up,” Caruth told Bob Pockrass after the crash. “I was okay, and then I got ran over from behind. It’s plate racing, I caused a big one here last year, so it’s part of this deal. Hate it for my HendrickCars.com and Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, but it’s Daytona—so it happens.”
The crash unfolded with just 20 laps to go, eliminating big names like Michael McDowell, Matt Crafton, and Toni Breidinger, along with several others.
Caruth’s disappointment was palpable—after running near the top 10 all night, he saw his strong race end in P30, a gut-wrenching contrast to his third-place finish at Daytona last year.
“From P3 last year to P30 in 2025, this was a bitter blow for the team. We deserved better.”
Kligerman’s Heartbreak: NASCAR Strips Daytona Win in Stunning Post-Race Decision
Just when fans thought the drama was over, NASCAR dropped a bombshell—race winner Parker Kligerman’s No. 75 Chevy Silverado failed post-race inspection.
The decision disqualified Kligerman and handed the win to Corey Heim, the very driver whose aggressive move helped trigger Caruth’s race-ending crash.
The inspection failure left fans buzzing, as NASCAR’s rigid enforcement of post-race technical rules once again reshaped the final results.
Daytona Delivers Another Unforgettable Truck Series Opener
From Rajah Caruth’s painful exit to Parker Kligerman’s stripped win, the 2025 Fresh from Florida 250 will go down as another wild, unpredictable Daytona classic.
For Corey Heim, it’s an unexpected first win of the season. For Rajah Caruth and Spire Motorsports, it’s back to the drawing board—hoping to turn heartbreak into motivation for the next race.
