Ryan Preece aims to build on his impressive 2025 campaign as he enters his second year with RFK Racing, looking for his first NASCAR Cup Series win and a possible playoff spot in the RFK Racing 2026 season. Preece, who showed significant progress last season, brings new optimism to both his team and fans as the new year approaches.
Preece’s Career-Best Season and New Team Dynamic
In 2025, Ryan Preece demonstrated how critical the right environment can be in motorsports. Racing his sixth full-time NASCAR Cup Series season, Preece secured career-best statistics, finishing 18th in points, earning an average finish of 15.7, and racking up 14 top-10 results. These results mark his strongest year to date and validate his potential among NASCAR’s elite drivers.
This marked Preece’s first season driving for RFK Racing, and at 35 years old, the Berlin, Conn., native finally had a contending vehicle underneath him. Before joining RFK, he gained experience with JTG Daugherty Racing—now HYAK Motorsports—and Stewart-Haas Racing during their decline, neither of which gave him a chance to consistently challenge at the front. This left Preece relatively untested at the highest level until his recent opportunity.
Building Momentum Toward the RFK Racing 2026 Season
Preece’s breakout performance in 2025 naturally leads to questions about his potential for the RFK Racing 2026 season. His steady development was mirrored by his teammates, Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski, who also posted consistent results, especially in the latter half of the year. Preece’s closest brush with victory came at Talladega in April, where he finished second but saw the result disqualified after post-race inspection. This near-miss highlighted both his progress and the small margins that separate contenders from champions.
With a full season at RFK Racing under his belt, Preece is poised for further improvement. The team’s cars are expected to remain highly competitive, raising hopes that Preece may finally secure victory lane in the top series in 2026. Given his upward trajectory and a strong support system, observers expect him to factor into the playoff picture, regardless of adjustments to the postseason format. If the playoff field is reduced from 16 drivers to 12 or even 10, Preece’s recent performance suggests he will still be in contention for a spot.
Why 2026 Could Be a Defining Year for Preece
All signs indicate a promising year ahead for Ryan Preece as he enters a situation primed for his continued rise. With his adaptation to the RFK Racing team, the support of experienced teammates like Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher, and the momentum from a career-best season behind him, Preece appears ready to stake his claim among the sport’s key drivers.
Hailing from the same region as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Preece’s story now stands at a turning point. If he successfully capitalizes on his current opportunity with RFK Racing in the 2026 season, it could mark the transition from a solid contender to a household name in NASCAR. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if Preece can reach Victory Lane and earn his first Cup Series win, signaling a transformative chapter both for his own career and for the RFK Racing organization as a whole.
