Ryan Preece’s RFK Racing 2025 season has surprised competitors and fans, as the late formation of his team has evolved into tangible on-track results. Just months after the No. 41 was pieced together under pressure and without a finalized lineup, Preece and the RFK organization are surging up the NASCAR standings, defying broad skepticism and putting a shocking playoff run within reach.
In January, assembling a full crew for Preece felt like a race against the clock. The situation drew cautious glances across the NASCAR garage as RFK Racing shuffled personnel and puzzle pieces less than a month before the Daytona season opener. According to Preece, the team only landed a crew chief at the very end of the off-season.
We didn’t have a crew chief until the end of January, uh, with Derek. It was the wildest thing,
—Ryan Preece, Driver
Despite this instability, optimism began to build within the team as personalities from different backgrounds bonded through adversity. As the season transitioned into summer, these modest beginnings gave way to a sense of collective belief. RFK Racing not only weathered doubts but began to shed them thanks to visible progress on the track and a noticeable spirit in the garage area that extended to drivers such as Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski.
Building Trust Amidst Early Adversity Sets the Foundation
Preece’s adjustment period with RFK was marked by frequent miscommunications and hard-earned lessons. As a new driver surrounded by unfamiliar faces and without the luxury of a full off-season, he relied heavily on open dialogue. Honest discussions proved crucial, especially during challenging moments early on with new crew chief Derek.
I remember going into his office…….. Like I am just trying to explain what I need, and I remember looking at him and I can see this blank stare back, and I’m like ‘am I confusing you?’ And he looked at me and said ‘yes’. But I wanted that honesty, and from there on out, I was like ‘I’m doing more harm than I am good’.
—Ryan Preece, Driver
This exchange signaled a turning point for the team’s internal chemistry. By prioritizing clear communication and reducing needless second-guessing, RFK Racing laid the foundation for trust that translated to improved performance on track. Throughout the spring and summer, that cultural shift manifested in the points standings as the No. 41 steadily closed the gap to the playoff cutline.
RFK’s Results Spark Playoff Dreams
Despite an unremarkable 27th-place finish at the Daytona 500, RFK’s performance arc has been upward. In the critical stretch leading up to August, Preece delivered three top-12 results from five races, including finishing eighth at New Hampshire and sixth at Iowa Speedway. These performances spotlight not only raw speed but also provide evidence of better decision-making, especially on strategy calls and pit cycles.
Behind the results lies a meaningful evolution. Preece highlighted RFK’s support network, including a dedicated strength coach and the motto
“love the process so the process can love you back,”
as instrumental in building confidence. Senior drivers Keselowski and Buescher have both provided guidance and set high standards for the group’s rising ambitions.
I hold Chris to a pedestal… Chris is good at getting that extra bit of speed, and I’m trying to find where we can keep getting that,
—Ryan Preece, Driver
Brad has been fast as shit lately, and just things haven’t worked out. But I think these next fourteen races… there’s an opportunity to win.
—Ryan Preece, Driver
With venues such as Iowa, Watkins Glen, and Daytona in sight, RFK Racing’s late-season surge is no longer just a feel-good story. The team has strengths on both wild-card and technical circuits—formats that fit their evolving setup approaches and increasingly synchronized driver-crew communication.
Transformative Team Dynamics and a Tight-Knit Crew
The intangible factor powering this turnaround may be the unique way the crew has coalesced. Even though many on the team—including engineer Brent, who arrived with no Next Gen experience from ThorSport—were initially thrown together by circumstance, they found compatibility. Preece articulated that their shared mindset and willingness to adapt overruled any lack of prior relationship.
We didn’t pick the team, the team picked us. And it’s just been easy to work with,
—Ryan Preece, Driver
Such chemistry is a rarity in the fiercely competitive world of NASCAR Cup Series racing. Dale Earnhardt Jr., known for his insight into crew dynamics, recently marveled at how a seemingly fragmented unit managed to unite so quickly into a rebounding force with top-10 ambitions.
RFK’s Momentum Shifts the Organization’s Trajectory
Team-wide, RFK Racing’s 2025 campaign stands out within the Cup Series. Keselowski and Buescher have both found stability, sitting 10th and 14th in the regular-season points, respectively, while Preece’s results continue to close the gap. Notably, in this Next Gen era, RFK is the only non-Hendrick or Gibbs organization with every entry in the top 20 of owner points. That achievement points to a well-rounded, multi-car effort largely absent from the team’s recent history.
The next phase of the schedule shapes up favorably. Tracks such as Watkins Glen (August 10), Richmond (August 16), and Daytona (August 23) play to the team’s strengths. In 2024, Buescher scored a top-five at the Glen, while RFK swept top-10s at both Richmond races, and Preece was just a car length off a massive upset at Daytona, placing fourth in dramatic fashion. Each of these venues represents a plausible win scenario as the regular season closes.
For a car that doesn’t have track position and is starting 23rd, being able to finish fourth and execute it through strategy and restarts, that shows we have a really strong core. I feel like, ultimately, the finish was a good ending for us.
—Ryan Preece, Driver
Solid day for us. We were in a position. At certain points, we showed a lot of speed. We needed to catch a few breaks to win, which is normal for this race. We didn’t catch enough breaks, but we caught some good breaks to finish in the top five with both RFK cars.
—Brad Keselowski, Driver
Currently, Preece sits 19th in the driver standings, only 18 points behind the cutline for playoff contention. Every remaining race, and especially every stage point, carries heightened importance. RFK’s solid execution on pit road and strategic adaptability has allowed them to leapfrog competitors even during green-flag runs.
Statistical Growth Underscores Playoff Potential
The synergy within the team has also driven clear statistical progress since finalizing the crew lineup in late January. In the opening five events of the year, RFK’s average finish stood at 19.8; over the most recent five-race stretch, it has improved to 13.4, demonstrating significant momentum just as the playoffs near. This six-spot jump places the entire roster on alert as the calendar advances to pivotal ovals like Michigan, Darlington, and the Bristol night race.
If Preece and RFK Racing can maintain current form, achieving top-10s or even breaking through for a race win, the dream of a playoff shock is no longer a stretch. The statistical trends point to a lineup peaking at the most consequential phase of the season.
Tight Competition and the Path Ahead
With only 14 events left before the playoff field is sealed, the margin for error grows slimmer. For Preece, the challenge is clear: maximize every stage performance and run near or above his rivals in raw track position. The ability to coordinate with rapidly-adapting talents like Brent, coupled with guidance from veterans Buescher and Keselowski, gives the No. 41 group a blend of underdog energy and competitive know-how.
The significance of this run reaches beyond just the point standings. RFK Racing’s current trajectory highlights what can happen when adversity is transformed into shared purpose. In a Cup Series often defined by resources and legacy programs such as Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, RFK’s season disrupts that narrative through chemistry, strategy, and grit.
As the field approaches critical stops at iconic venues and the playoff bubble tightens, Ryan Preece and his revitalized team face their biggest test yet. A strong finish at the right time could deliver the shock the garage has begun murmuring about—one that would cap an unlikely turnaround for both driver and organization.
For now, the industry’s cautious optimism and the internal fire sparked by open conversations and unexpected unity ensure that all eyes remain fixed on what the No. 41 car and RFK Racing will accomplish next in this unpredictable NASCAR Cup Series season.
