In the RFK Racing Daytona race recap, all three Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing teams arrived at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night aiming for a critical victory to secure a place in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. With the postseason on the line, the team demonstrated speed, smart strategy, and determination, but their playoff hopes faded by the finish under the lights in Florida.
Buescher Leads the Team with Strategic Racing
Chris Buescher steered the No. 17 car to an impressive sixth-place result, representing the top finish among the RFK entries. Throughout the demanding race, Buescher remained resilient, skillfully handling the intense pack racing and the pressure of a must-win scenario. His night began with a brake problem on the pace laps, but quick work from the team during a lap-11 caution allowed him to stay in the hunt. After a cautious and tactical Stage One, where he finished 24th and focused on fuel conservation, Buescher moved up the field thanks to efficient pit work to start Stage Two inside the top 10.
By linking up with a group of Fords and following a thoughtful fuel-only pit call from crew chief Scott Graves after a mid-stage caution, Buescher continued to move forward. He finished Stage Two in 14th, all while managing his resources and tracking the evolving race dynamic. The final stage saw him restart from second, draft closely with Joey Logano, and lead the inside lane with just a handful of laps left. A bold four-wide move in the closing moments disrupted his momentum, yet he held strong to claim sixth—the best result for RFK Racing on the night.
“Our Fifth Third Mustang was so good. It handled great and pushed so well. We certainly had a shot and had the speed again, so want to be excited about that, and I am, but man, it’s just another one of those we had the ability to win this race, had the speed, had the handling, and no champagne to celebrate.”
—Chris Buescher
Preece Shows Discipline and Consistency in Daytona Battle
In the No. 60 Kroger/Little Bites/Capri Sun Ford, Ryan Preece advanced impressively from his 31st-place starting spot. Preece steadily climbed through the field, reaching the top 15 within five laps by utilizing the high line and clean drafting with his partners. A series of cautions and a red flag incident punctuated the opening segment, which Preece avoided, allowing him to maintain composure and finish the first stage in eighth. Despite feeling the car was “a little loose,” he reported the overall handling was solid.
Stage Two saw Preece employ a savvy fuel strategy, topping off during the break before making a strong push forward with help from Buescher. Although a mid-stage caution shuffled the order, he battled back to finish eighth again, showing reliability and competitive positioning. In the final segment, Preece remained a contender at the front, running as high as fourth with 12 laps left. However, lacking critical drafting partners late, he slipped out of line and ended the race in 14th place, having fought hard against Justin Haley and others in the lead group.
Keselowski Battles Traffic and Strategy for a Top-20 Finish
Brad Keselowski began the night strongly, starting 10th in the Consumer Cellular Ford and advancing quickly behind Denny Hamlin in the lead draft. A switch to working with Daniel Suarez on the bottom line kept him near the front amid early cautions. Avoiding a multi-car crash and red flag, Keselowski’s race took a turn after a lap-32 pit stop dropped him back to 22nd, and he was ultimately 11th at the conclusion of Stage One.
During Stage Two, a brief scare on pit road was averted when his crew prevented a penalty, allowing him to restart near the front behind leader Cody Ware. However, fuel-saving instructions dictated his pace, and subsequent events left him finishing 23rd in that segment. For the closing stage, Keselowski filled up on lap 111 and resumed mid-pack, then received approval to push with 34 laps left. Unfortunately, limited drafting support forced him lower in the field. After a late pit stop for tires and fuel during a caution, he restarted 19th and fought hard, finishing 18th at the checkered flag.
RFK Racing Looks Ahead After Intense Daytona Effort
Although none of the RFK Racing drivers secured a win or playoff berth at Daytona International Speedway, the team displayed solid racecraft, teamwork, and strategic thinking all night. Chris Buescher’s leadership, consistent performances from Ryan Preece, and determined efforts by Brad Keselowski kept the RFK cars competitive in one of the season’s most unpredictable events. Daniel Suarez, Joey Logano, and others played key roles in the dynamic pack racing, while crew chiefs like Scott Graves made impactful decisions along the way.
The NASCAR Cup Series now turns to Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, where RFK Racing will aim to build on their progress. The next race is scheduled for Sunday, August 31, 2025, offering another chance for the team to showcase resilience and challenge the front runners in the highly competitive playoff atmosphere.
