Ryan Preece clinched his first NASCAR Cup Series win for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK Racing) at Bowman Gray Stadium, as winter weather forced the event’s postponement to Wednesday in Winston Salem, NC. This RFK Racing NASCAR victory came after a snowstorm blanketed the region on January 30, pushing back the Cook Out Clash and setting the stage for an intense and emotional contest.
An Emotional and Gritty First Win for Ryan Preece
Representing Berlin, CT, Ryan Preece piloted the No. 60 Kroger/Coca-Cola Ford Mustang, surging from 18th on the grid to earn his career’s first NASCAR Cup Series victory. The achievement capped years of dedication, fortitude, and persistence for both Preece and the RFK Racing team. Preece expressed the emotional weight of his journey after taking the checkered flag,
“Two Years ago, I didn’t think I was gonna have a job,”
said the Berlin, CT driver in victory lane.
“I thought I was going back to Connecticut, and I’m just super emotional”
—Ryan Preece, Driver.
Preece showcased remarkable progress from the start of the race, advancing past Ross Chastain and moving from 18th to 16th by the first caution. By the midpoint, he reached ninth place, his Ford Mustang steadily improving as cold winter weather loomed. Preece’s determination was clear as he told his team early on he was on the move and,
“I’m a quarter-mile killer. When it comes to this style of racing it’s what I grew up doing,”
—Ryan Preece, Driver.
Battling Adversity and Changing Conditions
The midway break brought both a pause and fresh challenges—icy sleet forced teams like RFK to switch to rain tires, turning the already tough event into a test of survival. Shortly after the restart, visibility dropped, and Preece spun after contact with Chastain, falling to 19th. Displaying resilience, Preece quickly rebounded to eighth with 70 laps remaining. This comeback set the stage for a relentless charge through both high and low lanes, ultimately putting him in the lead at lap 143 of the 200-lap event.
Preece’s lead was briefly interrupted, but his short track experience and composure helped him regain and then retain the top spot after lap 156. On a frigid night with unpredictable grip, Preece managed restarts with authority and secured the dramatic RFK Racing NASCAR victory.
Following the emotional night, Preece remarked,
“Man, (the emotions) all hit me. I feel bad for Roush Yates Engines right now because that thing is bouncing off the chip pretty hard,”
said Preece.
“I’ve got to thank Ford, Ford Racing and everybody there with all the support they give us. As far as emotions go, when you work as hard as I have, I hate talking about it because I hate getting emotional about it, but it’s not just the Clash – winning means everything to me. I’ve put a lot into it.”
—Ryan Preece, Driver.
Chris Buescher Delivers a Steady Top-Ten in Torrid Weather
While Preece soared on Wednesday night, teammate Chris Buescher also impressed with the No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford Mustang. Starting eighth, Buescher seized early opportunities by passing competitors such as Christopher Bell to run as high as sixth by lap 40. However, handling issues as track conditions shifted sent him back to 16th at halfway.
Buescher’s crew, led by Scott Graves, made pivotal adjustments during the midway break. After sleet and snow reappeared, he carefully navigated chaos and cautions to rejoin the top ten, ultimately finishing eighth—an impressive result amid one of the most unpredictable nights Bowman Gray Stadium has seen. Buescher praised Preece, reflecting,
“Overall, we had decent speed. It fell off really hard with all the rain and ice. It was chaos out there. So, everything‘s a little worse off for the wear. I’m happy for Preece and the 60 bunch. That’s pretty cool. It was neat for them to pull it out with all those conditions.”
—Chris Buescher, Driver.
LaJoie’s Grit in a Substitute Role
Corey LaJoie stepped in for Brad Keselowski, who was recuperating from injury, piloting the No. 6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang. LaJoie started outside the top 20 and needed to fight through the 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier to earn a spot in the main event. After running fourth, he made bold moves, passing John Hunter Nemechek for third and then battling with AJ Allmendinger and Austin Cindric for the final transfer spot.
The heated duel for the coveted second position during the closing laps saw LaJoie and Cindric trading positions multiple times, utilizing both inside and outside lanes. Ultimately, despite aggressive efforts, LaJoie just missed advancing, finishing third in the LCQ. Reflecting on the effort, LaJoie explained,
“It was like a game of chess at 50 miles an hour. You wanted to be the guy on the inside obviously, but you don’t want to pass the guy because then he had the opportunity to get back to you,”
—Corey LaJoie, Substitute Driver.
“I came up a little bit short. It was exciting. It was fun to be in the fight. I hadn’t been in a fight like that in a long time.”
—Corey LaJoie, Substitute Driver.
What the Victory Means for RFK Racing and NASCAR
This triumph holds deep significance for both RFK Racing and Ryan Preece, representing not just a win on the track but the payoff for persistence through adversity. With Preece’s emotional victory, the team not only broke through winter’s icy grip but also reminded fans of the unpredictable excitement that NASCAR short track action can bring. The event at Bowman Gray Stadium, marked by unexpected weather and stirring performances from Preece, Buescher, and LaJoie, has set a powerful tone for the RFK Racing NASCAR victory campaign ahead, inspiring both their fans and the broader motorsports community.
