Ryan Preece, a Connecticut native and longtime NASCAR Cup Series competitor, captured the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 29, 2026, delivering the victory that locked him into the championship playoffs.
The final lap unfolded amid a chaotic chain reaction sparked by Zane Smith’s bump, which sent several cars into a multi‑car melee. Preece’s car, still running under caution, navigated the wreckage and surged to the front, crossing the finish line ahead of his rivals.
Redemption on the superspeedway
The win marked Preece’s first Cup‑Series points victory and propelled him to 16th place in the playoff standings, edging out Shane van Gisbergen for the final spot. It also gave Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing a rare double‑entry, with teammate Chris Buescher already secured.
Preece’s triumph comes after a series of harrowing incidents at Daytona, including two previous flips that tested his resilience. Reflecting on the moment, he said the win felt like redemption for his team’s perseverance.
A career defined by perseverance
A 2009 graduate of Xavier High School, Preece began his racing journey in the SK Modified division, capturing the 2011 Stafford Motor Speedway championship before climbing the NASCAR ladder. His fiancée, Heather Preece, also made her mark in the series, winning the 2011 SK Modified Rookie of the Year.
Looking ahead, Preece will join Joey Logano and the other 15 drivers at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina for the opening playoff event, where the new champion will be crowned.