249 starts, one win, and a playoff spot
Ryan Preece won his first Cup Series race on Saturday night. The RFK Racing driver came out on top in overtime at Daytona in the Coke Zero Sugar 400, the last race of the regular season. He needed a win to make the Chase. He got it.
The finish came down to a two-lap sprint. Zane Smith was leading at the white flag, tried to block Tyler Reddick, got out of shape, and Preece inherited the lead. The race ended under caution, six laps beyond the scheduled 160.
Preece is 35. It was his 249th Cup Series start, and he led just five laps on the night. Ford has now won this Daytona race four times running since 2023.
Try it for $0.99.
Van Gisbergen pays for a 27th-place finish
The 25 bonus points that go with a win changed everything. Preece started 17th, sitting 31 points behind Shane van Gisbergen in the standings. He ended the night 16 points ahead of him, taking the 16th and final playoff spot.
The New Zealander had won the opening stage. Then came 27th place, and a Chase he will watch from outside. “Obviously, you want to be in the Chase, and we’re not,” van Gisbergen said.
Preece was in no mood to be gracious about the years that got him here. “I’m speechless, but the guys on the 60 are fighters. When we get pushed into a corner, we swing back,” said the Connecticut driver. “Two years ago, a lot of keyboard warriors said I was nothing. We kicked their asses tonight.”
Forty cars, and hardly a quiet lap
Ross Chastain led the field away from pole. Austin Hill took control before Chris Buescher passed him at the white flag of the opening stage, then got caught up in a wreck involving Kyle Larson and Preece.
Ryan Blaney won the second stage ahead of Preece and Smith. With 20 laps to go, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Larson held the top three before pitting and handing those spots away. Daniel Suarez, Reddick, Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr filled out the front of the field behind the winner. Smith, who had the race in his hands with a lap to go, came home 32nd.
Discover the rest of the NASCAR news on our mathodds website and app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply