Ryan Preece absolutely ripped the final playoff spot right out of contention at Daytona International Speedway, snatching a walk-off victory on the very last lap of the regular-season finale. This wasn’t just another win, this was a statement, launching him to 16th in the standings and locking him into NASCAR’s revamped Chase postseason, a system that now makes every single win count even more. Preece himself summed it up perfectly, telling USA Sports, “I’m at a loss for words.” What a night for a racer who truly deserved it.
Preece Swings Hard When His Back Is Against The Wall
This win was pure grit. Preece was running second entering overtime, worried he was running out of fuel during a late caution after Carson Hocevar wrecked and collected Erik Jones. But he battled, he fought, and he got to the lead when it mattered most. Remember earlier this year when RFK Racing got dinged with a 25-point penalty for allegedly wrecking Ty Gibbs? Preece didn’t even believe they had contact, and it looked like that penalty would keep him out of the postseason entirely. Talk about vindication! The 20-point bonus from this Daytona win wasn’t just a trophy, it propelled him from 31 points behind Shane van Gisbergen straight to 17 points ahead for that final playoff berth. And let’s not forget his Daytona history: two massive flips in recent years, one leaving his eyes bloodshot for a week. The 35-year-old earned his first Cup points race win in his 249th career start, proving that perseverance is a real thing. “We’re fighters,” Preece declared. “When you put our back against the wall, we swing hard. … Last year there were a lot of keyboard warriors saying I was nothing. Well, we just kicked their butts tonight.” You gotta love that fire!
Bubble Bursts and Holds: Van Gisbergen’s Heartbreak
While Preece was celebrating, others were fighting their own battles for the Chase. Austin Cindric, who entered the race only 13 points ahead of van Gisbergen, finished a solid sixth to keep his spot. The Team Penske driver knew the stakes. “The guys did a great job of giving me information all night, whether it was points or fuel and how to adapt,” Cindric said. “That’s what it takes to be a contender at a minimum, but definitely look for a strong 10 weeks from us.” Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace clinched his spot early by grabbing the two points he needed in the opening stage.
Then there’s the heartbreak for Shane van Gisbergen. The guy has two road course wins this year, but Daytona crushed him. He pitted prior to overtime, fearing a fuel shortage, then got caught in the final wreck and finished a devastating 28th. “Congrats to the 60 [of Preece],” van Gisbergen admitted to USA Sports. “But one night doesn’t sum up our year. I guess we haven’t been good enough. It’s been cool to be close. Shame we’re not in it.” Trackhouse Racing is officially shut out of The Chase. On a broader note, the new aero package, with its shorter spoiler and less horsepower, actually seemed to improve the racing, making cars less likely to run tight in packs and encouraging drivers to make bold moves.
Now the Chase is set. Preece, the ultimate underdog, is in. Cindric is ready to contend. This isn’t just a playoff, it’s a redemption tour waiting to happen, and we can’t wait to see what these fighters bring to the track next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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