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Ryan Preece NASCAR Cup Series
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Ryan Preece won his first NASCAR Cup race at Daytona in his 249th start.
The win clinched the final Chase playoff spot, capping an 11-year journey.
Background
Ryan Preece, a driver from Berlin, Connecticut, had been competing in the NASCAR Cup Series for about 11 years without a win. The 2026 season introduced a new points system and postseason format. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona was the regular-season finale, where a win guaranteed a spot in The Chase. Preece's victory in overtime secured the 16th and final playoff berth.
How it unfolded
- Aug 29, 2026Ryan Preece won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in overtime, his first Cup Series victory in his 249th career start.
- Aug 30, 2026NASCAR.com reported on Preece's win, highlighting his 'fight until the bitter end' attitude and his clinching of the final Chase slot.
- Sep 1, 2026Motorsport.com published an article noting Preece's win was the fourth-longest wait in Cup Series history before a first win.
- Sep 5, 2026Preece was preparing for the Chase opener at Darlington Raceway, driving the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- NASCAR.com described Preece's win as a 'gritty' and 'resilient' performance that secured the final Chase berth.
- Analysts
- Motorsport.com noted that only three drivers in Cup history had waited longer than Preece's 249 races for a first win.