RFK Racing must win at Daytona to secure a spot in the upcoming 2025 playoffs, as the team enters the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. With more than a dozen full-time drivers in desperate need of a victory to keep their championship hopes alive, the stakes for this Saturday night’s race in Daytona Beach, Florida, are at their highest.
After Austin Dillon’s surprise win last week at Richmond Raceway, Chris Buescher from RFK Racing dropped below the playoff cutline by 60 points and now sits 17th in the playoff standings. His teammate, Ryan Preece, is just behind in 18th, meaning that all three RFK drivers—Buescher, Preece, and Brad Keselowski—are now in a situation where only a win guarantees their playoff survival.
RFK’s Strategy and Teamwork in High-Pressure Conditions
RFK Racing, which has re-established itself as a leading Ford team, heads into Daytona knowing that the only sure way into the postseason is to capture the checkered flag. Chris Buescher claimed a memorable win in this very race two years ago, narrowly holding off Keselowski, who is both a co-owner and the 2012 NASCAR champion. However, Keselowski himself faces an urgent need to win, even after a recent strong run that lifted him in the standings.
“You try to plan for races that have so much chaos and it’s absurd to do that. You try to survive and win at the end.”
—Brad Keselowski, Team Owner and Driver
Although only one RFK Racing entry can ultimately qualify for the postseason, the organization sees the value in collaboration rather than competition within the team. According to Preece, the drivers’ jobs will be to work their way into the leading rows of the pack and support each other’s efforts.
“The way I look at this race is our jobs are to get up in the first few rows and work with each other to get there,”
—Ryan Preece, Driver
“But if Brad and Chris are in the first two rows, it’s my job to find myself there to work with them and put RFK or one of us in position coming to the line winning.”
—Ryan Preece, Driver
Buescher’s Playoff Hopes Hinge on a Daytona Win
For RFK Racing, advancing at least one car into the playoffs is the organizational goal, regardless of which driver accomplishes it. Chris Buescher found himself in a similar predicament last season, falling out of contention due to others clinching victories. While Buescher’s team focused on a stronger start for this year, failing to win a race early could once again jeopardize his playoff ambitions.
The RFK team has spent extensive time reviewing strategies for Daytona, emphasizing strong teamwork on superspeedways, where the trio historically perform well. At the most recent drafting-style event in EchoPark Speedway, Buescher and Keselowski’s tight collaboration resulted in a second-place finish for the No. 6 car, just behind Chase Elliott.
“We’ve been able to find ourselves towards the front of these races and it’s hard to win them,”
—Chris Buescher, Driver
“So much happens in those closing laps, but you’ve got to make the best decisions you can in the moment and it’s not really feasible to say you’re three cars acting as one the entire time. You do your best, but a lot of times there’s just not the opportunity to keep three cars in a line pushing and making best speed at all given points.”
—Chris Buescher, Driver
Superspeedway Prowess and Historic Partnerships
Throughout recent seasons, Ford teams, especially Team Penske, have dominated superspeedway tracks. Brad Keselowski has finished runner-up several times since his last drafting-track victory at Talladega Superspeedway in 2021, highlighting his continued competitiveness. RFK owner Keselowski expressed optimism that the team is due for a win at such venues.
“We’ve had a lot of great runs. Ryan had a shot to win at Talladega and missed by a few feet. I’ve had [three] second-place runs in the last year-and-a-half on the [superspeedways]. I feel like we’re in a good spot to get one.”
—Brad Keselowski, Team Owner and Driver
Preece and Buescher’s connection predates their RFK partnership; the pair first worked together at JTG Daugherty Racing in 2019 and 2020. While Preece cannot predict exactly how the 400-mile Daytona race will unfold, he is confident about the team’s position and ability to challenge for the win.
“If you’re gonna try to win this race, I guarantee you’re gonna have to go through an RFK car to win,”
—Ryan Preece, Driver
“I feel like we’re in a strong position to get one of our cars in and good luck to the other ones that are gonna have to get through us.”
—Ryan Preece, Driver
Qualifying Adjustments and Starting Grid Outlook
Severe weather in Daytona led to the cancellation of qualifying, affecting the starting order for Saturday’s event. Keselowski will lead the RFK trio from 10th on the grid, while Buescher starts in 24th and Preece lines up 31st. This distribution creates an extra hurdle for Buescher and Preece, but both expect teamwork to remain a deciding factor.
What the Daytona Finale Means for RFK and the Playoff Picture
The Daytona showdown is a make-or-break event for RFK Racing and several other playoff hopefuls. With only one team member able to qualify for the postseason, RFK’s challenge lies both in their need to collaborate on track and the pressing requirement to accomplish a rare victory. As the series heads into its final regular-season race, Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Preece will have all eyes on them, and a win at Daytona would not only secure a coveted playoff berth for RFK Racing but reinforce their rising strength among NASCAR’s Ford powerhouses.
