Ryan Preece Daytona 500 Practice saw Ford drivers secure the top five positions in Saturday’s final session at Daytona International Speedway, underscoring Preece and RFK Racing’s strong start ahead of the season’s most anticipated NASCAR race. Preece, coming off his recent Clash victory, set the fastest lap and helped RFK Racing claim the highest three spots a day before the 2026 Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Preece, who drives the No. 60 Ford, reached 192.819 mph in his practice run. Despite only 18 cars participating out of 41 entries, Preece’s performance highlighted Ford’s dominance, as drivers Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski—both Preece’s RFK Racing teammates—took second and third fastest. Fellow Ford competitors Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano completed the top five, further reinforcing the manufacturer’s advantage. Keselowski also posted the top 10-lap average speed at 191.510 mph.
Other Contenders and Notable Absences
Not every top competitor took to the track, with pole sitter Kyle Busch and outside pole starter Chase Briscoe opting to protect their cars ahead of Sunday’s race. William Bryon, currently the two-time defending Daytona 500 champion, managed only the 13th fastest time in his Chevrolet, with positions six through thirteen filled by Chevrolet drivers. The only driver representing Toyota was seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who participated in Saturday’s session and shared his aspirations for the event.
“I think we have a real shot at winning the Daytona 500 and putting my name on here again,”
said Johnson, a two-time race winner.
Preece’s Recent Climb and Past Challenges
Preece’s recent victory in The Clash two weeks earlier at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, marked his first Cup Series win. He prevailed amid challenging conditions, including sleet and a wet course, highlighting both his skill and resilience. Preece’s background features an ascent through modified racing in the Northeast, ultimately earning him a spot in NASCAR’s national ranks since 2013 and now his seventh full Cup Series season.
His career has included turbulence, notably a severe crash at Daytona in the summer of 2023 where his car flipped multiple times, leading to hospitalization and significant safety improvements at Daytona International Speedway. In the previous year’s Daytona 500, Preece had another harrowing accident but has since rebounded, underlining his determination to succeed at this level.
Career Progress and Recent Moves
Preece’s journey included two races in 2022, followed by stints with Stewart-Haas Racing before they closed operations in 2024. RFK Racing, co-owned by Brad Keselowski, brought Preece on board ahead of 2025, where he quickly established himself as one of the organization’s standout performers, with 223 starts since 2015 and 30 top-10 finishes to date.
Preece continues to show his drive and focus as he chases his first points-paying Cup Series win. At media day, he reflected on his passion and dedication to the sport:
“Every win at this level is gonna feel like the first,”
Preece said this week at Daytona.
“I’ve worked too hard to get here for it not to. There’s been different wins in my career on different stages that have meant a lot to me and winning that first points series race is gonna be a big deal. I hope my kids are there. I hope my family is there when it happens, but that’s the goal for 2026 is win.”
– Ryan Preece, NASCAR Driver
Looking Ahead to the Main Event
With rain in the forecast, NASCAR officials have moved up the start time of Sunday’s race by one hour, setting the green flag for 2:13 p.m. Eastern. As Ryan Preece and Ford teammates prepare for one of the sport’s most prestigious races, the competitive landscape is shaped by their current speed and confidence. The field is also marked by seasoned veterans like Jimmie Johnson, who has announced plans to finish his Cup Series career at the Daytona 500 in 2027, adding extra weight to every appearance he makes at the event.
Preece’s impressive performance in practice, his resilience through adversity, and his current momentum with RFK Racing have placed him firmly in the spotlight as the Daytona 500 approaches. The coming race may offer him an opportunity to achieve his stated goal and finally add a Daytona 500 win to his resume.
