The season‑ending race of the NASCAR Cup Series unfolded at Daytona International Speedway with the championship chase hanging on a single overtime finish.
Ryan Preece seized the win in overtime, edging out a competitive field that included Shane van Gisbergen and securing the final playoff berth. The triumph also guaranteed two Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing cars a spot in the upcoming 16‑driver Chase.
The victory represented a personal redemption for Preece, who had been involved in a series of crashes at Daytona in 2023 and 2025 that left his cars flipped, making the win especially meaningful.
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing celebrated the result as both of its entries earned playoff positions, underscoring the team’s resurgence and the strategic importance of the Daytona finale.
The new playoff calculus
Shane van Gisbergen, despite running among the leaders, pitted during the final caution and finished 27th, a result that cost him a playoff spot under the series’ new format that emphasizes season‑long performance.
Behind Preece, a cluster of drivers — including Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, Michael McDowell, Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — completed the top‑ten, each battling for the remaining playoff places.
Veteran seven‑time champion Jimmie Johnson made his final Cup Series start, piloting the No. 48 car in a gray‑and‑blue livery that paid homage to the 2027 Daytona 500.
In a surprise crossover, Hollywood star Tom Cruise announced he will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in a sequel to ‘Days of Thunder’, slated for a 2028 release by Paramount Pictures.