Ryan Preece is set to face William Byron in the opening round of NASCAR’s in-season tournament, with the competition beginning Saturday, June 28, at Echopark Speedway, previously Atlanta Motor Speedway. This Ryan Preece NASCAR tournament challenge highlights Preece, seeded 15th, as he prepares to go head-to-head against Byron, the 18th seed and current points leader.
Preece, who transitioned to RFK Racing for the 2025 season after his former team Stewart-Haas Racing folded, is pursuing his first victory of the year. Positioned 14th in the driver standings, the Berlin, Connecticut native has accumulated 383 points, marked by a single top-5 finish and seven top-10 placements this season. With the Quaker State 400 looming, Preece spoke candidly about the upcoming test against his Hendrick Motorsports rival, William Byron.
“I’m the higher seed, but I’m going against (William) Byron, who is the points leader. So that was a little bit challenging.”
—Ryan Preece, Driver
Preece’s Recent Form Offers Momentum in the Tournament
Preece has shown improvement with RFK Racing in recent weeks. In his last six races, the driver of the #60 car logged three top-10 finishes, showcasing growing consistency. His standout result so far this season was claiming third place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. Preece expressed optimism about his team’s performance and the momentum they carry into the tournament stretch, adding a confident message aimed at his competitor.
“We’ve been really strong, so I feel like it’s a great little, I don’t know how many weeks it is…five weeks or something like that…it’s a great five-week stretch to have something, you know, build some buzz. Yeah, Byron, you’re going down, bud,”
he added with a smile. —Ryan Preece, Driver
The high-stakes race—lasting 260 laps—will be broadcast live on TNT Sports, with additional radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio starting at 7 p.m. ET. Preece is set to start fifth, sharing the third row with his teammate and boss, Brad Keselowski. Joey Logano, who won last year’s event for Team Penske, will lead the field from pole position.
A Challenging Road: From Team Closure to New Opportunities
Preece’s participation in the tournament marks a significant turnaround from his uncertain offseason. When Stewart-Haas Racing ended operations before 2025, Preece, a NASCAR Modified champion, found himself facing unemployment. Unsure about his next move, he was in discussions with Brad Keselowski but did not know if he would secure a seat with RFK Racing.
“I think there’s always doubt, or a moment of uncertainty. I remember in August, September, I was looking at properties in Connecticut to go and possibly move back there and do that, so it was just…I didn’t really know.”
—Ryan Preece, Driver
RFK Racing soon acquired a third charter, expanding its operation, and brought Preece aboard as part of the new-look lineup. This provided much-needed stability and allowed Preece to reset his NASCAR career after leaving JTG Daugherty Racing (now Hyak Motorsports) in 2021 and serving as a reserve driver for Stewart-Haas in 2022.
“I’m thankful that it all did come together because it does take a lot of things. And really, I feel like it made me a better person, being here,”
he added. —Ryan Preece, Driver
While Preece has enjoyed a varied career, including time as a reserve driver and racing alongside high-profile teammates like Brad Keselowski, he is still aiming for his first Cup Series victory. With the new team and the backing of sponsors like Celsius, Preece’s performance in the Ryan Preece NASCAR tournament challenge will be closely watched. The outcome could pave the way for a significant milestone in his NASCAR journey, as well as influence future team strategies for RFK Racing and rival outfits like Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske.
