Ryan Preece just pulled off an absolutely miraculous first career NASCAR Cup Series win at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, and man, did he make it count. The driver of the No. 60 finally broke through for his first victory in his 249th career start, and the triumph came with massive Chase implications that changed everything for a few drivers.
The Daytona Do-or-Die Finish
Preece came into Saturday’s race, the final one of the regular season, staring down a 31-point deficit behind Shane van Gisbergen for the last spot in the Chase. He needed a win, plain and simple. And he delivered! Preece flat-out overtook Zane Smith on the final lap, then led right as the caution flag flew after a huge pileup erupted behind him. SVG, despite winning Stage 1 earlier, finished 27th and did not make the cut for the Chase. But it wasn’t just Preece grabbing glory. Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric also clinched their Chase spots: Wallace secured his with a sixth-place finish in Stage 1, and Cindric punched his ticket by finishing sixth in the race itself.
Chaos, Wrecks, and a Wild Overtime
This race was pure bedlam from start to finish. Stage 1 saw Chris Buescher smack the outside wall and spin from the lead after contact with Kyle Larson. Buescher collected both Larson and Preece in the wreck, which ironically allowed Shane van Gisbergen to win Stage 1 and grab 10 crucial stage points. That crash, plus SVG’s points, pushed Preece even further back in his Chase chances early on. Luckily, Preece nabbed three stage points of his own in Stage 1 and nine more in Stage 2 for finishing second. The drama didn’t stop there: Carson Hocevar suffered a violent crash in the closing laps while running in third, collecting Ty Gibbs and Erik Jones. That crash marked Hocevar’s second DNF of the 2026 season and, crucially, set up an overtime finish. Zane Smith led at the white flag, but Preece was an absolute maniac, working his way to the point as the field roared through Turn 2. Then, as Preece got by, Smith spun right in front of the pack, triggering another massive multi-car crash that forced the race to end under caution. What an absolutely wild way to get your first win!
What a day at Daytona! Preece’s unbelievable first win means he’s now officially in the Chase. This guy fought tooth and nail, survived multiple wrecks, and made the move of his career when it mattered most. The regular season is done, and now the real fight begins. Get ready, because the Chase just got a whole lot more interesting!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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