Tailgate party: two rookies experienced a wild ride of highs and lows in their first truck race at Daytona.(NASCAR)(Brad Keselowski, Deborah Renshaw)(Interview)

Every year, wily veterans, eager rookies and everyone in between gather at Daytona International Speedway to kick off the Craftsman Truck Series season. Two of those drivers, competing at the track this year for the first time in a truck race, represented the vast difference in today's NASCAR.

One comes from a family-owned, single-truck team. That's Brad Keselowski. The other, Deborah Renshaw, drives for a manufacturer-backed, multi-truck team.

Keselowski just turned 21, and upon seeing his tall, lanky frame in the garage, it's easy to mistake him for a fan eager to meet his favorite driver. Actually, he grew up watching Dennis Setzer and Terry Cook win in the No. 29 Ford of his father, Bob. These days, however, Keselowski is the one driving his dad's machines.

Renshaw, 27, is seeking success in a male-dominated sport. She drives the No. 8 Dodge in Bobby Hamilton Racing's developmental program.

The two Daytona first-timers also have a single degree of separation: The elder Keselowski, in dire need of funding last season, replaced Brad with Renshaw, who brought money with her to the No. 29 driver's seat.

But at Daytona, money is less of an issue. Before the race, Keselowski's team signed SUBcrews.com as its primary sponsor for the season, and Renshaw's team, BHR2, signed a deal with Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts.

"I feel like we have less to worry about," Brad Keselowski says. 'I think you'll see me take more chances than ever. Some may call it reckless, others may call it hard driving, but it's the way you have to do this."