RFK Racing Martinsville performance was in the spotlight as Ryan Preece charged from his 18th starting spot to secure a sixth-place finish at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. The team’s determination was clear throughout the 500-lap battle, with Preece demonstrating the skills that have earned him acclaim on short tracks, while Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher delivered hardworking performances at the challenging Virginia venue.
Ryan Preece Delivers Career-Best Consistency at the Historic Oval
Ryan Preece has established himself as a formidable short-track racer, becoming known for his hard-charging style at tracks like Martinsville Speedway. With championship titles and a pair of modified wins at Martinsville already to his name, Preece arrived Sunday full of confidence and quickly translated that into results during the NASCAR Cup Series event.
From the initial drop of the green flag, Preece guided his Castrol/TravelCenters of America Ford with precision, pushing into the top 15 during the early laps. He maintained momentum through steady gains and completed Stage One in 11th position, signaling the team’s strong form for the afternoon.
During Stage Two, Preece and crew chief Derrick Finley continued to improve the car’s balance, which allowed him to run some of the quickest laps in the field. His disciplined approach paid off, resulting in a seventh-place finish for the stage and keeping RFK Racing’s hopes high as the race pressed on.
The closing stage saw Preece emerge as a genuine frontrunner as he battled respected competitors such as Kyle Larson and Joey Logano. With over 140 laps to go, Preece ran as high as third, proving his capabilities against NASCAR’s elite. A late caution momentarily slowed his charge, but he rallied and advanced into the top 10 again, reaching the checkered flag in sixth place—a personal high for top-10 finishes this year.
“Our Ford Mustang was really good,”
said Preece.
“I felt like from the drop of the green between managing the plan we had, we just had a really good race car and it was kind of surprising to me. From there, it was fun to use tools that you learn growing up in racing – how to manage tires and take care of them and do the things that you need to do to keep them on it, so I had a lot of fun today.”
– Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Driver
Keselowski Battles Adversity to Complete the Distance
Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Cup Series champion, entered the weekend hoping to add a third Martinsville victory to his résumé. Starting from 19th in the BuildSubmarines.com Ford, Keselowski faced a series of challenges from the onset, including losing a lap in the race’s brisk early pace. Nonetheless, he concluded Stage One in 16th place after working every opportunity around the tight corners of the half-mile circuit.
In the second stage, Keselowski and crew chief Jeremy Bullins made strategic adjustments, intent on unlocking more speed and handling. Their efforts were tested by traffic and yellow flags, but Keselowski managed to avoid incidents, finish the stage 25th, and keep himself in position to challenge for the lead lap.
The last segment of the race was another stern test for Keselowski. Restarting as the first car a lap down, he kept up with the leaders and survived a multi-car incident, constantly on the edge of earning a return to the lead pack. Ultimately, the timing of cautions did not favor him, and despite his efforts, he was unable to recover his lost lap and closed out the race in 20th.
“Not the day we were looking to have,”
said Keselowski.
“I think Ryan was really quick but we never found the pace we really wanted. Then we caught some bad breaks on the yellows. All that combined we just didn’t get the finish we wanted.”
– Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Chris Buescher Faces Tough Day at Martinsville’s Demanding Half-Mile
Chris Buescher tackled a difficult afternoon at Martinsville, starting deep in the field from 29th with his Kroger/Core Power Ford. Managing a nervous car during the early going, Buescher stayed focused and gradually found his rhythm even after slipping a lap down. He completed the first stage in 27th, working steadily amid one of the most testing fields in NASCAR.
Stage Two saw the No. 17 pit crew working diligently to adjust the Ford’s handling, helping Buescher dive deeper into corners and improve his ability to rotate through turns. Despite a stage punctuated by frequent cautions, Buescher continued to avoid accidents and kept up a measured pace, ending the segment in 28th place.
The closing stage was filled with even more on-track interruptions, but Buescher’s determination did not waver. Starting the final stretch of laps in 29th and several laps down, he maintained focus, navigated heavy traffic, and kept his car undamaged, ultimately finishing in 29th after a long and relentless race at one of NASCAR’s oldest and most physically demanding tracks.
“No track position to start. We just couldn’t catch a break,”
said Buescher.
“We tried some stuff and the caution would fall at the worst times. Just trying to pass cars and conserve tires at the wrong times and then the caution would come out. I just couldn’t make the right decisions.”
– Chris Buescher, RFK Racing Driver
RFK Racing Looks Forward to the Next Stop at Phoenix
As the RFK Racing Martinsville performance wraps up, attention quickly shifts to the next event at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, AZ. The Cup Series continues its march toward the season finale, with NBC Sports set to broadcast the high-stakes racing on Sunday, November 2, at 3:00 PM EST.
Martinsville’s race once again underscored the endurance and skill required to compete at the highest level in NASCAR. Ryan Preece’s standout day highlights his growing stature as a reliable short-track competitor for RFK Racing, while Keselowski and Buescher’s perseverance demonstrates the deep resolve within the team. The experience and momentum gained at Martinsville could prove influential as they tune up for Phoenix and pursue even better results to close the season.
