Compared to the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway, the 2026 edition was quite tame. After only 13 cars finished on the lead lap in ’25, 23 accomplished that feat this year.
When the checkered flag flew on Saturday (Feb. 14), Gio Ruggiero drove his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to victory lane. It’s his first win in the national division to accompany his ARCA Menards Series East win. It’s also the first win for JGR in ARCA competition at Daytona.
While the 2026 season will see the series regulars emerge to the forefront, the Frontstretch ARCA power rankings Daytona edition recognizes those with noteworthy performances, even if they did not finish first through fifth.
1. Gio Ruggiero
Admittedly, Ruggiero took the lead via a bump gone wrong that eliminated the top two cars, both Nitro Motorsports drivers Jake Finch and Gus Dean.
“Yeah, you know, obviously I was just trying to push the No. 15 [Finch] to get our lane in the bottom rolling and get us out to a good lead to try and make a move to win,” Ruggiero said in his post-race press conference. “But I don’t know if it looked like the No. 25 [Dean] might’ve came down a little bit and got him sideways on my nose. Unfortunate there that they got wrecked.”
At drafting-style racetracks, bumps gone wrong, ridiculous block attempts and wrecks have become commonplace when going for the victory.
Whether Ruggiero’s move for the win is viewed as dirty or clean, fair or foul is something that will be decided by the commentariat as well as his competitors. Regardless, he is the only one with an ARCA trophy in 2026, so he starts the year atop these rankings.
2. Daniel Dye
Daniel Dye did not participate in the ARCA preseason test at Daytona in January. His team Sigma Performance Services failed to purchase AM Racing. And Dye had not made an ARCA start since the 2022 season finale. None of those mattered on Saturday.
Dye qualified third, led 20 laps including leading the field to the competition caution, and crossed the line fourth.
Dye’s No. 24 Ford did not have the speed to beat the Nitro duo, but nobody did, until they wrecked.
Yet on the last lap, he restarted behind Ruggiero, entered turn 4 in second place and then was passed twice on the frontstretch.
Dye’s ARCA performance did not translate into excellent results in his other two Daytona races. He finished 17th and 21st in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts. Nevertheless, with a car that had a chance to win Daytona entering turn 4 on the white flag lap, Dye gets the runner-up spot in these rankings.
3. Jake Bollman
In qualifying on Friday, Jake Bollman posted the fastest time. However, his time was disallowed after his No. 20 Toyota failed post-qualifying tech inspection, relegating him to a 33rd-place starting spot. He quietly drove his way through the field, avoiding accidents, and wound up runner up, passing Dye in turn 4. He was the only driver out of the six-entry Nitro stable to do so.
“Yeah, I mean, car was great all day,” Bollman told Frontstretch post-race. “Even yesterday – you know, we got DQ’d in tech. I mean, that happens when you’re going to push it at the edge the whole race and, you know, the whole season. … I wasn’t mad about it; it happens. You know, we rebounded really good today, finished P2. Couldn’t have asked for a better day. For me, first superspeedway race, I mean, that’s really the dream, right? Finish the race was really my goal, right, since I’m running for points.”
Only three full timers finished inside the top 10 with Bollman leading the charge. The rookie entered the season as an unknown with only two national division starts. If he can run smartly throughout the season, he will factor into the championship outcome.
4. Kole Raz
Bollman gained 31 spots from start to finish. Kole Raz gained 29, starting 32nd and finishing third. Raz nearly missed the show, though. If Bollman’s lap had stood, thereby earning him the pole, Raz would’ve been bumped out of the top 32, who made the race on speed, and failed to qualify due to his provisional status. Instead, Bollman took the provisional, Raz went to 32nd fastest and made the race. Eighty-four laps later, he was on the podium.
“It was eventful,” Raz said post-race. “We got put behind the eight-ball in qualifying with the way we do groups. Had to come back from the back and just try to stay out of the mess. I feel like we did a good job at that. It got hectic there, for sure, but right place right time and had a good enough run to push Bollman. … Yeah, really proud. Rette Jones Racing gave me a good piece and hope we can do more with them this year and just go have some more fun. That’s what it’s all about.”
For the cherry on top, Raz’s third-place result helps Wayne Peterson Motorsports, which leased its No. 0 owner points to RJR for Raz’s Daytona entry. Pretty cool story overall.
5. Bobby Dale Earnhardt
An Earnhardt finishing inside the top 10 at Daytona is always good for racing. In 2026, it was Bobby Dale Earnhardt, who piloted the No. 89 Rise Racing Chevrolet to a ninth-place result.
“Words can’t even explain it,” Earnhardt said happily after the race. “First, I got to give thanks to God. If it wasn’t for Him, I wouldn’t be here. This is His plan. This is what we were meant to do. … I got a great crew, I got my family here. I mean, this is top 10 at Daytona my first time here. I couldn’t ask for anything better.
“Dude, man, I’m so happy, so relieved to have made it to this race. Happy to have No. 89 on here for Morgan Shepherd. He’s one of my heroes. What he raced for and stood for. The paint scheme here for my granddad on the 25th year, it’s just awesome. We’ve had a symbolic weekend, a great weekend, and there aren’t no words to say how happy I am right now.”
Earnhardt drives for Rise, owned by Tim Goulet. It’s Goulet’s fifth top 10 as an owner and second ever on asphalt. Furthermore, it is only the second lead-lap finish for the organization. Even though he did not win the race, Earnhardt wheeled an outstanding performance for the underdogs at Daytona, rounding out the top five.
Paint Scheme of the Race
Daytona brought forth numerous top-notch paint schemes. We’ll start 2026 by giving the nod to Ryan Vargas, who drove a gorgeous No. 91 Ford for Maples Motorsports to an eighth-place showing.
Lucky Dog Mobile Groomers came onboard his No. 91, and he delivered a best-ever finish for MMS to boot.
The organization expanded from two full-time entries to four in 2026. However, two of its entries failed to qualify at Daytona. Vargas and team owner Michael Maples raced their entries to eighth and 12th-place showings, an impressive day for the team despite the two other DNQs.
The ARCA field next heads to the unique one-mile Phoenix Raceway. That race, a combination one with the ARCA Menards Series West, will take place on Thursday, March 5, at 5:30 p.m. ET with TV coverage provided by FOX Sports 1.
Mark Kristl joined Frontstretch at the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR season. He is the site's ARCA Menards Series editor. Kristl is also an Eagle Scout and a proud University of Dayton alum.