Ryan Preece’s NASCAR playoff push has become one of the season’s most emotionally charged stories, with the RFK Racing driver fighting on the edge of possibility as the 2025 regular season winds down. At a career-defining crossroads, Preece is betting on calculated risks and relentless effort to break his winless streak and secure a long-awaited spot in NASCAR’s postseason.
From Short Track Triumphs to a Cup Series Gamble
Ryan Preece’s journey through the NASCAR ranks began on Connecticut’s fiercely competitive Modified circuit, where his gritty determination and bold choices set him apart early on. After claiming the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship, Preece made the leap to NASCAR’s national scene, racing part-time in the Xfinity Series with teams such as Tommy Baldwin Racing and JD Motorsports. His career took a pivotal turn in 2017 and 2018 with Joe Gibbs Racing, where he captured two Xfinity wins and became known for his decisive, high-pressure performances. Each move was a testament to his willingness to take career-altering risks, a pattern that has come to define his ascent.
As Preece put it after his career-changing victory,
“It was fun because what was really cool about it is the people that you race against—even if you had the biggest rivalry with them—they respected you enough to say, Man, that was it. That was cool. Watching you win was like one of us.”
—Ryan Preece, NASCAR Driver. These moments did not just bring trophies, but the respect of his rivals and the attention of influential names within the sport.
The Iowa Breakthrough and a Door Opens
Preece’s breakthrough came in July 2017, at Iowa Speedway, where he claimed his first Xfinity Series win at the US Cellular 250 in dramatic overtime. That day, he began on pole and weathered a tense green-white-checkered finish, ultimately outrunning competitors like Kyle Benjamin and Brian Scott. His performance impressed not only fans but also the NASCAR garage, especially those at Joe Gibbs Racing.
This run of success led to a career-shaping call.
“All of a sudden, I get a call from Steve de Souza saying, Hey, Ryan, you know, what do you want to do? Are you busy next year? Would you be available to run so-and-so races?”
—Ryan Preece, NASCAR Driver. Preece was presented with an expanded opportunity—14 or 15 races for Joe Gibbs Racing, due to a sponsor shuffle within the organization. The respected car owner recognized Preece’s capacity to deliver under immense pressure and wanted him behind the wheel for the team’s high-profile No. 18 toyota/”>Toyota in the following year’s Xfinity Series schedule.
“Hey, we’re going to—we’re going to put you in for these 10 races in the 18.”
—Ryan Preece, quoting Steve de Souza, Joe Gibbs Racing. With this, Preece found himself with more seat time and a platform to further prove his consistency and versatility, running everything from stand-alone events like Kentucky, where he finished fourth, to big-money contests such as Bristol’s Dash 4 Cash, which he ultimately won.
Preece credited much of this opportunity to unique connections.
“But also, Stanley Black & Decker was located out of New Britain, Connecticut—7 minutes from my dad’s shop, our house. Well, Stanley—you know, DeWalt sponsored JGR—and a close friend of mine who did our tires that I’ve known since I was a kid ended up selling a car to somebody that was at Stanley and um, you know, they ended up talking about racing somehow and like, Hey, do you know this Ryan Preece guy?”
—Ryan Preece. Local ties and lifelong friendships, combined with his on-track accomplishments, essentially landed him the sponsorship support that was crucial for extending his time in top-tier equipment.
Connections, Sponsorship, and the 2018 Leap
The sponsorship piece proved critical, as deals with Stanley, DeWalt, and later Craftsman, were made through a mix of personal relationships and stellar on-track performance. As he recounted, they went from chance introductions at a local shop to formal partnerships:
“Oh yeah, he just won with Gibbs. You know, we sponsored that team.”
—Ryan Preece.
“Oh yeah, you know, I’ve helped him for so long.”
—Ryan Preece. Those connections resulted in Stanley and Craftsman backing Preece for a total of 14 to 15 Xfinity races in 2018, where he continued to rack up top-five and top-ten finishes and added another win to his resume.
It was this combination of local partnership and persistent racing results that made Ryan an attractive candidate for a full-time Cup Series seat. In 2019, he was offered his first top-level ride, piloting the No. 47 chevrolet/”>Chevrolet for JTG Daugherty Racing after replacing AJ Allmendinger. Though overjoyed with achieving a lifelong dream, Preece was candid about the challenges the shift brought to his family, particularly his wife. Yet, through the uncertainties, he remained focused on building a lasting presence on NASCAR’s biggest stage.
The Present: A Season Defined by Last Chances
In 2025, Ryan Preece finds himself still chasing that elusive first Cup Series victory, the one result he needs to punch a ticket to the NASCAR playoffs. Now driving for RFK Racing, he faces the pressure of a win-or-bust situation as the season nears its climax. The intensity surrounding Preece’s playoff pursuit has become a subject of discussion throughout the NASCAR community, with fans and analysts alike wondering if he can finally convert years of effort and near-misses into a defining triumph.
Preece is known for approaching each race with a relentless, no-holds-barred mentality, and his recent performances have reinforced this reputation. He has clawed his way to top 10 and top 15 finishes, even when starting deep in the pack at events like the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Chicago Street Race. Weeks are now marked by high-stakes decisions, from aggressive race tactics to extra practice sessions intended to wring out every ounce of speed, as neither he nor his RFK crew is willing to settle for mediocrity.
There have been stumbles along the way—missteps on pit road, strategic errors, and moments where opportunities slipped past. Yet, instead of becoming discouraged, Preece and his team doubled their efforts. Their focus sharpened, and every detail, from qualifying to pit stops, has become a critical part of the all-or-nothing playoff push.
Amid these challenges, the question echoes across the NASCAR garage: Can Ryan Preece’s risk-taking finally pay off, or is he destined to remain winless in NASCAR?
High Drama as the Playoff Window Narrows
The drama surrounding Preece’s quest for a playoff berth has only heightened as the regular season calendar ticks down. Each remaining race represents both an opportunity and a final warning—there is effectively no margin for error. With the Iowa Speedway race fast approaching, the same track where his career-defining breakthrough occurred in the Xfinity Series, Preece faces a poetic and pressure-laden test.
Drawing lessons from his bold moves and near-misses, Preece enters this final regular-season push with a full-throttle mindset; he and his team refuse to play it safe. Their strategy is marked by strategic risk-taking—gambling on pit calls, attacking every restart, and seeking potential advantages even when the odds appear stacked against them. For the underdog, every lap counts, and every point gained or lost could represent the difference between playoff heartbreak and unexpected glory.
Throughout NASCAR history, stories of late surges and make-or-break moments abound, but Preece’s narrative takes on a unique resonance because of his long and winding journey from Connecticut short tracks to the Cup Series. The sacrifices, the personal and professional risks, and the unflagging support from individuals like tire specialists and sponsors such as Stanley Black & Decker have armed him for this very fight.
What’s at Stake: Legacy, Opportunity, and the Next Chapter
For Preece, the significance of this stretch goes beyond a single playoff appearance or the prospect of a long-awaited victory. His campaign to break the winless streak is about proving that calculated risks and steadfast hard work can still yield results in a sport increasingly dominated by powerhouse teams and big budgets. It’s about showing that connections—from his days at his father’s Connecticut shop, to pivotal interactions with leaders at Joe Gibbs Racing and Stanley Black & Decker—can change the course of a career.
Experts and other drivers are closely monitoring whether Preece’s relentless approach can upset the established order. Should he pull off a last-minute win, he will cement himself as a driver who made the playoffs through determination and audacity, reinforcing hope for underdogs everywhere. If not, his journey will still stand as a testament to resilience, self-belief, and an unwavering willingness to bet on himself—even when the odds are daunting.
Regardless of how the season concludes, Ryan Preece’s NASCAR playoff push in 2025 will be remembered as a story rich with passion, high stakes, and the singular determination that marks true competitors in racing’s uppermost ranks. As the final chapters of the regular season unfold, all eyes are on the man who refuses to let up—still searching for that defining victory, and still believing he can rewrite his NASCAR destiny.
