Greg Van Alst Balances Truck Pressure, ARCA Momentum During Daytona Speedweeks
February 12, 2026
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Is busier better?
A month ago, Greg Van Alst was focused solely on preparing his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team for Friday night’s Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
Now, his schedule looks a little different.
In the past three weeks, Van Alst has added a return to the ARCA Menards Series to his plate — effectively doubling his workload in hopes the added seat time sharpens his edge.
The thinking is simple: more laps, more reps, more opportunity to refine the details that matter most at superspeedways.
For Van Alst, the expanded slate isn’t about being busy for the sake of it. It’s about momentum — ensuring that preparation in one garage translates into performance in another.
Of course, the responsibility and pressure remain squarely on his shoulders in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series garage.
But Van Alst heads to the Sunshine State with a relaxed demeanor — reminiscent of the calm confidence he carried to an emotional victory in the ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona in 2023.
“I don’t look at it as being busier,” Van Alst said. “I look at it as getting better. The more time I can spend in the seat, especially at a place like Daytona, the more I can fine-tune the little things that make a difference. Every lap matters, and if it helps us on the Truck side, it’s worth it.”
The former ARCA CRA champion will arrive in Daytona armed with the same No. 35 Toyota Tundra he competed with last fall at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
Since then, however, Van Alst has poured his heart and soul into elevating the truck’s performance — refining every detail at a time when he’ll need it most.
Van Alst must qualify 31st or better to secure a starting spot and make his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at the World Center of Racing.
And if the season veteran earns one of the coveted positions in what is expected to be one of the most competitive fields in recent memory, he understands exactly what’s at stake.
He’s been here before.
At Daytona, dreams can come true.
And if everything falls into place, they can come true twice — this time on an even bigger stage.
Van Alst believes the groundwork laid late last season could be pivotal as he returns to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series garage.
“I’m proud of the gains we made on our Truck Series program at the end of the 2025 season,” explained Van Alst. “We learned a lot in a very short amount of time, and we have applied what we learned during the offseason in hopes of it paying off starting at Daytona.
“We’re going to be around this year, it may not be every week, but when we’re at the track, we want to showcase that our small team can continue to get better and inch our way through the field and hopefully turn some heads.
“Daytona is the perfect place to keep our momentum rolling from Phoenix Raceway last October.”
No matter what happens on Friday night, Greg Van Alst will take a breath and shift his focus to Saturday’s General Tire 200 — climbing aboard the No. 19 Chevrolet for Maples Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series.
“No matter what happens Friday, I’m grateful to have another opportunity on Saturday,” Van Alst said.
“Being able to climb back in an ARCA car at Daytona is special. It keeps me sharp, and honestly, it reminds me why we do this in the first place.”
Partnerships are vital in any aspect of racing, and the No. 35 Greg Van Alst Motorsports team would not be preparing to make its NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut at Daytona International Speedway without the support of its valued partners: Top Choice Fence, East Coast Diesel and Marine, Finest Travel Agency, Indy Muscle and Joint, Island Way Pools, Lifeline Fire and Safety Systems, Mike’s Mobile Mechanic Services, NotLoc Racing Productions, SandBar Seafood and BBQ Joint, S.R.D. Industries Inc., and Verns Concrete.
“You don’t get to Daytona by yourself,” added Van Alst. “This opportunity to compete in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is a direct result of the incredible partners who believe in what we’re building.
“Their support gives us the ability to chase big dreams on one of the biggest stages in motorsports, and we’re proud to represent each and every one of them this weekend.”
For more on Greg Van Alst and Greg Van Alst Motorsports, please visit GregVanAlst.com, like them on Facebook (Van Alst Motorsports) and follow him on X | Twitter (@GregVanAlst35).
The Fresh From Florida 250 (100 laps | 250 miles) is the first of 25 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2026 schedule. Practice begins on Thurs., Feb. 12, from 5:00 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Friday, Feb. 13, starting at 3:00 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 7:30 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the NASCAR Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.
