VanDam, Truex Jr. race and fish at Daytona

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Flanked by the full-blown NASCAR experience, Daytona International Speedway’s Lake Lloyd played host to Kevin VanDam, Martin Truex Jr. and Air Force Master Sergeant Oscar Dominguez.
Flanked by the full-blown NASCAR experience, Daytona International Speedway’s Lake Lloyd played host to Kevin VanDam, Martin Truex Jr. and Air Force Master Sergeant Oscar Dominguez.
VanDam monitors the graph for any subtle changes in this mostly flat lake.
VanDam monitors the graph for any subtle changes in this mostly flat lake.
Truex delivers the sunscreen VanDam requested for this blistering morning.
Truex delivers the sunscreen VanDam requested for this blistering morning.
Dense beds of eel grass carpet dominate the Lake Lloyd habitat.
Dense beds of eel grass carpet dominate the Lake Lloyd habitat.
A spacious pier allows race fans and track staff access to Lake Lloyd, while providing a prominent point of shade for heat-weary bass.
A spacious pier allows race fans and track staff access to Lake Lloyd, while providing a prominent point of shade for heat-weary bass.
Bass fishing in the shadow of Daytona International Speedway.
Bass fishing in the shadow of Daytona International Speedway.
A Strike King jerkbait fooled VanDam’s best fish of the day.
A Strike King jerkbait fooled VanDam’s best fish of the day.
Kevin VanDam — this guy’s so good, he literally caught a fish right in front of his sponsor’s track sign.
Kevin VanDam — this guy’s so good, he literally caught a fish right in front of his sponsor’s track sign.
No tournament today, so this keeper didn’t take a ride.
No tournament today, so this keeper didn’t take a ride.
Martin Truex Jr. said he fishes just about every infield lake his schedule allows.
Martin Truex Jr. said he fishes just about every infield lake his schedule allows.
This race fan was slow swimming a worm through the Lake Lloyd eel grass.
This race fan was slow swimming a worm through the Lake Lloyd eel grass.
Truex makes a pit stop to change baits.
Truex makes a pit stop to change baits.
Making an adjustment led Truex to a respectable Lake Lloyd fish.
Making an adjustment led Truex to a respectable Lake Lloyd fish.
VanDam remains focused while Truex unbuttons his catch.
VanDam remains focused while Truex unbuttons his catch.
They weren’t all giants, but VanDam’s jerkbait attracted attention.
They weren’t all giants, but VanDam’s jerkbait attracted attention.
While VanDam and Truex were getting set up for their outing, NASCAR fan Ricky Grubbs showed the kind of bluegill swimming in Lake Lloyd.
While VanDam and Truex were getting set up for their outing, NASCAR fan Ricky Grubbs showed the kind of bluegill swimming in Lake Lloyd.
Air Force Master Sergeant Oscar Dominguez joined Kevin VanDam and Martin Truex Jr. on Daytona International Speedway’s Lake Lloyd and caught the day’s biggest fish.
Air Force Master Sergeant Oscar Dominguez joined Kevin VanDam and Martin Truex Jr. on Daytona International Speedway’s Lake Lloyd and caught the day’s biggest fish.
With no net aboard, Truex was nice enough to provide the assist for Dominguez.
With no net aboard, Truex was nice enough to provide the assist for Dominguez.
Slowly working a weightless Strike King Caffeine Shad through the eel grass proved effective for Dominguez.
Slowly working a weightless Strike King Caffeine Shad through the eel grass proved effective for Dominguez.
A proud Master Sergeant Oscar Dominguez shows off the bass he caught with Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin VanDam.
A proud Master Sergeant Oscar Dominguez shows off the bass he caught with Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin VanDam.
After the fishing concluded, the anglers indulged in a speed fix by racing Traxas DCB M41 radio-controlled boats. One of the 40-inch catamarans matched the No. 78 car Truex drives, another mirrored VanDam’s tournament boat and the third bore an American flag pattern.
After the fishing concluded, the anglers indulged in a speed fix by racing Traxas DCB M41 radio-controlled boats. One of the 40-inch catamarans matched the No. 78 car Truex drives, another mirrored VanDam’s tournament boat and the third bore an American flag pattern.
Toyota’s Mike Childs goes over the basics of radio-controlled boat operation.
Toyota’s Mike Childs goes over the basics of radio-controlled boat operation.
Paul Doleshal, left, and Mike Childs, both representing Toyota, launch the Traxas boats to start the racing.
Paul Doleshal, left, and Mike Childs, both representing Toyota, launch the Traxas boats to start the racing.
VanDam and Truex quickly engaged in fierce, but friendly racing competition.
VanDam and Truex quickly engaged in fierce, but friendly racing competition.
Lake Lloyd saw blistering laps as VanDam, Truex and Dominguez exhausted two full battery packs.
Lake Lloyd saw blistering laps as VanDam, Truex and Dominguez exhausted two full battery packs.
Toyota’s Mike Childs and Paul Doleshal serviced the boats with precision and efficiency that might earn a nod of respect from the NASCAR pit crews.
Toyota’s Mike Childs and Paul Doleshal serviced the boats with precision and efficiency that might earn a nod of respect from the NASCAR pit crews.
Paul Doleshal clears Lake Lloyd eel grass from a Traxas prop.
Paul Doleshal clears Lake Lloyd eel grass from a Traxas prop.
Three boats headed for the far turn, as the competition intensifies.
Three boats headed for the far turn, as the competition intensifies.
Known for his aggressive driving style, Martin Truex Jr. unleashed a few of his tricks on Lake Lloyd.
Known for his aggressive driving style, Martin Truex Jr. unleashed a few of his tricks on Lake Lloyd.
Master Sargeant Oscar Dominguez held his own against some pretty stiff racing competition.
Master Sargeant Oscar Dominguez held his own against some pretty stiff racing competition.
From their pier perch, VanDam, Truex and Dominguez did their best to outmaneuver one another.
From their pier perch, VanDam, Truex and Dominguez did their best to outmaneuver one another.
With top speeds of 50- mph, the Traxas boats gave Lake Lloyd a serious dose of white water.
With top speeds of 50- mph, the Traxas boats gave Lake Lloyd a serious dose of white water.