DAYTONA BEACH, FL - One year ago, Ryan Preece was NASCAR’s ultimate long shot. Entering the 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, the Berlin, CT native sat 27th in points, staring down elimination with zero wins. One gutsy, door-to-door final lap later, he had his first career Cup Series victory and a miraculous playoff bid. Fast forward to August 31, 2026, and Preece isn’t just a feel-good story - he’s a legit threat to crash the championship party again. With a 14th-place points standing, one win, and a 23-point cushion above the cutline, the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford is built for a deep run. Let’s break down how the magic started, where he stands right now, and why Connecticut’s favorite son is far from done.
The 2025 Daytona Miracle That Changed Everything
It was the kind of race that defines careers. Preece entered the 2025 Daytona night race with nothing to lose, needing a win to even sniff the 16-driver playoff bracket. He led 19 laps, dodged the chaos that typically wrecks half the field, and then stared down Chase Briscoe on the final lap. The result? A photo-finish-style sprint to the checkered flag that locked Preece into the 2025 postseason as the 16th seed.
That win was pure validation for RFK Racing and crew chief Chad Norris, who had preached patience all season. Preece didn’t just sneak into the playoffs - he made noise, advancing to the Round of 12 before being eliminated with an 11th-place points finish. But the 2025 run planted a seed. It proved the No. 60 team could execute when it mattered, and it set the stage for a 2026 campaign built on consistency, not desperation. Now, with just two races left in the 2026 regular season, Preece is in the driver’s seat - literally and figuratively.
📊 23-point cushion - Preece's buffer above the playoff cutline with Darlington and Bristol remaining, giving him breathing room but no room for complacency.
2026 Regular Season: Consistency Over Chaos
Let’s be real: Preece’s 2026 stat line won’t blow you away. Through 24 races, he has one win (Phoenix in March), four top-5s, and eight top-10s, with an average finish of 16.8. But here’s the kicker - he’s been steady when others have been volatile. That Phoenix victory gave him playoff eligibility early, and since then, it’s been about stacking points and staying out of trouble.
The recent stretch has been particularly telling. A 3rd-place run at Michigan on Aug. 9 showcased his raw speed, and his 7th-place finish in Saturday’s Daytona race (Aug. 22) was a masterclass in damage control. Preece led a lap and was running top-10 late before a multi-car crash on lap 158 sent him to 22nd. He rallied back to 7th, proving this team has the resilience to absorb punches and keep swinging. That’s playoff material.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Races Run | 24 |
| Wins | 1 (Phoenix, March) |
| Top-5s | 4 |
| Top-10s | 8 |
| Average Finish | 16.8 |
| Points Standing | 14th |
| Points Above Cutline | +23 |
The Numbers That Matter Now
With Darlington (Sept. 6) and Bristol (Sept. 13) left in the regular season, Preece holds a 23-point edge over the cutline. That’s not a comfortable cushion, but it’s a winnable one. Darlington is a track where RFK has historically run well, and Bristol’s high-banked madness often rewards aggressive drivers who can survive - Preece’s specialty. A solid finish in either race likely seals his spot. A win? That would be the exclamation point.
