Jake Bollman Scores Runner-Up Finish In Season-Opener

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Feb. 14, 2026 — In a thrilling kickoff to the 2026 ARCA Menards Series season at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, rising star Jake Bollman delivered one of the standout performances of the race weekend with a hard-charging runner-up finish in the General Tire 200.

Bollman, driving the No. 20 SynerFuse Toyota for Nitro Motorsports, showcased grit, strategy, and speed in one of the most exciting superspeedway races of the year. The 84-lap contest was extended into overtime following a late-race caution, leading to a one-lap shootout. Bollman battled fiercely to the finish, ultimately crossing the line second and securing a career-best result at NASCAR’s most iconic track.

Bollman’s weekend began with a curveball. After initially posting the fastest qualifying time, his lap was disallowed due to a technical violation during post-qualifying inspection, forcing him to start deep in the field. Despite this setback, Bollman methodically carved his way forward — gaining an impressive 31 positions — while avoiding the late-race chaos that took out several frontrunners.

“I wasn’t mad about it; it happens,” Bollman said after the race. “We rebounded really good today and finished P2. Couldn’t have asked for a better day. For me, first superspeedway race, that’s really been the goal — just finish the race and learn something.” His ability to navigate the pack and stay out of trouble on late restarts highlighted his maturity behind the wheel — especially impressive given that this was his first superspeedway event at this level of competition. Bollman’s runner-up finish also places him second in the early ARCA Menards Series championship standings after just one race, underscoring the momentum he’s building as the season begins.

With Daytona now in the rearview, Jake Bollman sets his sights on the next round of the ARCA Menards Series on March 5th in Phoenix.