Ryan Preece erased a 31-point deficit in dramatic fashion at Daytona International Speedway, capturing his first career points-paying Cup Series win and locking down the 16th and final playoff position in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase.
Daytona Overtime Thriller Secures Preece’s Playoff Berth
Driving for RFK Racing, Preece steps into the 10-race championship battle armed with a singular, unyielding strategy. Playing defense was never on the table when a postseason berth hung in the balance during the regular-season finale.
All-Or-Nothing Driving Philosophy Under Pressure
Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Preece laid out the mindset that carried him across the finish line.
“There was nothing else. It was all or nothing. And, you know, at least in my career up north and, really just racing, that’s the attitude I like to race by. I want the go get it type of attitude,” Preece explained.
That aggressive posture grew directly out of pre-race conversations with crew chief Derrick Finley. On qualifying day, Finley boldly called his shot, predicting the team would sweep stages and take the checkered flag. Though the stage wins slipped away, the ultimate prize materialized when the race extended into overtime.
Championship Outlook as the Sixteenth Seed
Now locked into the Round of 16 as the 16th seed, Preece starts the battle at a mathematical disadvantage against top-seeded competitors like Denny Hamlin. Yet the RFK Racing driver refuses to look at the standings as a ceiling, pointing instead to the unpredictable nature of the postseason and the power of late-season momentum.
“If one guy in the Chase goes out, wins a couple races and dominates some stages and has some luck with the competitors… you can win from anywhere,” Preece said.
Keselowski Backs RFK Racing’s Two-Car Hunt
That underdog grit finds strong backing from the top of the organization. RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski celebrated the clutch Daytona victory by emphasizing how validation follows team success.
During post-race media availability, Keselowski maintained that his energy remains locked on vehicle performance, pit crew execution, and engineering strategy rather than questioning driver capability.
Preece’s walk-off triumph joins teammate Chris Buescher in the 10-race Chase, giving RFK Racing a powerful two-car punch in the hunt for the title.
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