SMASH HQ iRacing Cup Series: Trammell Wins Clean Daytona Battle, No Cautions Needed

By SMASH HQ — March 21, 2026

A Different Kind of Daytona Race

The SMASH Cup Series took to Daytona — and unlike the chaos seen earlier in the weekend, this race told a completely different story.

Clean. Fast. Controlled.

With zero cautions, drivers were forced to rely purely on pace, positioning, and discipline over the full 60-lap run.

And when it was over, it was Chris Trammell standing on top.

Starting mid-pack, Trammell worked his way forward and delivered one of the cleanest drives of the weekend.

No mistakes. No wasted moves. No unnecessary risks.

At a track where aggression usually wins headlines, Trammell proved that patience and execution can still dominate.

The #9 machine led 20 laps and never gave the race away.

The battle for the win stayed close all the way to the line:

A razor-thin margin separated the top three — showing just how competitive the Cup field already is.

With no cautions to reset the field, this race became a test of:

Drivers didn’t get second chances — and those who made even small mistakes paid for it over time.

A fast, disciplined race that rewarded precision over chaos.

Several drivers showed early-season strength:

This field is deep — and nobody is running away with it.

If the Truck and O’Reilly races showed chaos… the Cup Series showed control.

And Chris Trammell mastered it.

A clean, calculated drive puts the #9 in victory lane and sets the tone for what Cup racing in SMASH HQ is going to look like.

Now the question is simple:

Can anyone match that level of execution next week?