Ryan Preece clinched an emotional win during the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray on Wednesday night, marking his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series victory—even if it didn’t count toward the official points total. Facing a race full of chaos and 17 cautions, Preece managed to dominate the difficult quarter-mile oval, making the Ryan Preece NASCAR Cup win particularly meaningful for the veteran driver and his team.
Preece Dominates at the Madhouse for Breakthrough victory
The Cook Out Clash at the legendary Bowman Gray Stadium brought relentless action, with drivers tackling the tight, unpredictable turns of the track known as “the Madhouse.” Despite the high number of cautions and several incidents throughout the race, Preece stayed focused, took the lead for 46 laps, and maintained his composure to take the checkered flag. While the Clash is an exhibition event and the win is not officially recorded in the series standings, this moment held great weight for Preece who, after 214 starts in the Cup Series, had never claimed victory in a points-paying race.
His achievement drew immediate praise from his team owner, Brad Keselowski of RFK Racing. Keselowski expressed his pride after the race:
“Man that was Awesome! Great job @RFKracing and @RyanPreece.”
— Brad Keselowski, TFK Racing Owner
Preece has been with RFK Racing for two seasons and currently drives the No. 60 car. Before joining his current squad, he raced for Stewart-Haas Racing from 2022 to 2024, securing seven top-10 finishes during that stint. Earlier in his career, he competed for Hyak Motorsports (the former JTG Daugherty Racing) and Joe Gibbs Racing, steadily building his reputation in the sport.
Emotion spilled over for Preece following his breakthrough drive. Reflecting on the race and his journey in NASCAR, he shared:
“We had a really good car,”
Ryan Preece said after winning the Clash.
“This is as much of a mental game as it is anything. We had a couple restarts go our way. It’s been years and years of grinding. I’m super thankful for Brad Keselowski and all our partners.”
— Ryan Preece, Driver
Although this win does not alter his career record in the points standings, it serves as a crucial morale boost for Preece and RFK Racing as they set their sights on the upcoming 2026 season.
Resilience Shaped by Daytona Crashes and Recovery
Preece’s emotional win at Bowman Gray follows a turbulent stretch of his career marred by a pair of frightening crashes at Daytona International Speedway. In 2023, during NASCAR’s second visit to Daytona, his Stewart-Haas Ford was ensnared in the grass, launching into repeated flips before landing, fortunately, on its wheels. Despite the severity of the accident, Preece was quickly released from the hospital and returned to race at Darlington just a week later, bearing visible bruises but maintaining his determination.
The dangers of NASCAR were again highlighted in the following season’s Daytona 500 opener. Preece’s race took a dramatic turn after he was tagged by Christopher Bell, causing his car to go airborne, overturn, and smash back onto the course. The harrowing scene fueled Preece’s concerns for safety in the sport, especially as a father.
“When the car took off like that, all I thought about was my daughter,”
Preece said after ejecting his Mustang.
“I’m lucky I got to walk away, but we’re getting closer and closer to someone not being able to.”
— Ryan Preece, Driver
“When it finally does get someone, I don’t want it to be me. I’ve got a two-year-old daughter; just like a lot of us. We have families. Something needs to be done cause cars lifting off the ground like that felt honestly worse than Daytona in ’23,”
he added. — Ryan Preece, Driver
This string of accidents raised new questions about car design and track safety, prompting NASCAR to address some of the hazardous grass sections at Daytona, and further highlighting the resilience and vulnerability of drivers like Preece.
What Lies Ahead for Preece and RFK Racing
Preece’s triumph at Bowman Gray effectively launches his push toward the next competitive season with renewed confidence. The win puts him and RFK Racing in the spotlight as they build for the upcoming 2026 Cup Series campaign. Fans will soon be able to see him in action again as he prepares for the 68th running of the iconic Daytona 500. The race will air live on FOX at 2:30 pm ET, and those unable to watch can tune in via MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for real-time coverage.
For Ryan Preece, the journey has been filled with obstacles, setbacks, and emotional highs and lows. The emotional resonance of his NASCAR Cup win at Bowman Gray signifies both a personal milestone and a testament to perseverance in one of racing’s most unforgiving environments. As anticipation builds for the Daytona 500 and beyond, Preece, Keselowski, and the RFK Racing team look ahead with determination, keen to transform their exhibition success into future triumphs on NASCAR’s biggest stages.
Man that was Awesome!
Great job @RFKracing and @RyanPreece_ https://t.co/9l6yeojoDM
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) February 5, 2026
