Ryan Preece secured a pivotal victory by claiming the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Wednesday night, achieving his first-ever NASCAR Cup car win. This confidence-boosting performance positions Preece to target further success at NASCAR short tracks throughout the season.
Preece Achieves Long-Awaited Victory in Cook Out Clash
After years of persistence in the Cup Series, Ryan Preece finally clinched his first win in a Cup car, outpacing William Byron by a notable margin of nearly two seconds. Unlike typical races, the Cook Out Clash did not count towards the official NASCAR season, but the win saw Preece join the ranks of celebrated drivers like Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin, who also secured Clash victories before recording official Cup Series wins.
The race was far from routine. Heavy rain resulted in significant delays and a string of cautions that complicated strategies for all drivers. The unpredictable conditions meant teams had to improvise throughout the competition. Preece and his RFK Racing crew excelled, finding vital adjustments to help manage his car’s handling under challenging track conditions.
Team Effort and Tire Management Key to Victory
Preece attributed much of his success to his team’s collaboration and expertise. They were able to capitalize on the difficult weather, making technical decisions that allowed him to conserve tires and surge ahead during the closing laps. The ability to adapt tire management in the fluctuating environment allowed Preece to outperform his rivals when it mattered most.
Reflecting on the race and his outlook for the coming season’s short track events, Preece praised the technical aspects and race dynamics:
“My hats off to Goodyear because it wasn’t our traditional soft tire. It was a ‘rain’ tire. I still feel between them and the increase in horsepower on a quarter-mile with the gear that we are running, you could feel that,”
— Ryan Preece, Driver
“There were multiple times that I couldn’t go wide-open on the throttle. That’s saying something. I am excited about short tracks this year,”
— Ryan Preece, Driver
Mentorship and Team Support from Chris Buescher
Preece also credited his development as a NASCAR driver to his teammate Chris Buescher at RFK Racing. He highlighted how working alongside Buescher has pushed him to grow both on and off the track, saying:
“I hold @Chris_Buescher on a pedestal!”
— Ryan Preece, Driver
This strong teamwork and guidance from Buescher have played a major role in Preece’s recent progress, giving him the confidence and skills to rise through the ranks. Preece also extended his appreciation to team owner Brad Keselowski for his ongoing support.
A Promising Path After a Challenging 2025 Season
The 2025 season marked Preece’s first full year with RFK Racing, during which he concluded the year 18th in the overall standings. He collected three finishes within the top five, plus an impressive 15 top-10 results. Despite narrowly missing victory at Talladega Superspeedway due to a late infraction, Preece has shown resilience and consistency.
The momentum from his win at Bowman Gray Stadium signals a positive start to his 2026 campaign. It also brought joy to his crew chief, Derrick Finley, who experienced his first trip to Victory Lane as a Cup Series chief.
Crew Chief’s Inspiration Amidst Adversity
During the unpredictable and tension-filled race, Finley delivered a crucial pep talk that helped refocus Preece and set a determined mindset:
“I finally said, ‘You know, OK, we’re going to do this, so there’s no point in being mad. Let’s just go win this thing,’”
— Derrick Finley, Crew Chief
Such motivation proved instrumental in guiding Preece to his breakthrough victory under pressure.
Looking Ahead to More Success on NASCAR Short Tracks
Preece’s triumph in the Cook Out Clash has ignited hopes for even greater accomplishments as the season continues. With the backing of his RFK Racing teammates and leadership from Brad Keselowski, Preece is expected to channel this early momentum into more strong runs, especially on the NASCAR short tracks that now excite him most. His newly established confidence and team camaraderie position him as a competitor to watch closely in upcoming events.
“I hold @Chris_Buescher on a pedestal!”@RyanPreece_ gave credit to his @RFKracing teammate, as who he looks up to him and says he’s played a big role in his growth.
He also tells what he learned and what helped him go from 10th to 1st!#NASCAR | #CookOutClash | @MtrsprtsToday pic.twitter.com/uvKf5nW3ct
— Tim Moore (@IveBeenTimMoore) February 5, 2026
