Preece's first Cup win at Daytona secures final Chase berth
Ryan Preece captured his maiden NASCAR Cup Series victory at Daytona International Speedway, taking the lead on the final overtime lap after a collision between Zane Smith and Tyler Reddick. The win propelled him past Shane van Gisbergen in the points standings to claim the last spot in the 16-driver Chase playoffs. Preece's triumph came under NASCAR's revised points-based format, which had eliminated the traditional win-and-in guarantee.
Preece entered the regular-season finale trailing Shane van Gisbergen by 31 points in the standings, a deficit that appeared insurmountable under NASCAR's newly reinstated points-based Chase format. The format, which replaced the win-and-in rule used from 2014 through 2025, required consistent season-long performance rather than a single triumph. However, Preece's dramatic overtime victory, combined with van Gisbergen's 28th-place finish, flipped the math in one night.
The winning move came on the white-flag lap when Zane Smith and Tyler Reddick made contact, opening the bottom lane for Preece. A subsequent multi-car wreck forced a caution that froze the field with Preece ahead. The result completed RFK Racing's playoff representation alongside teammate Chris Buescher, while van Gisbergen, a seven-time winner over the past two seasons, was left on the outside.
This outcome may reshape how teams approach regular-season races under the revised points-based Chase, potentially discouraging overly conservative strategies late in the season. For fans, Preece's last-gasp triumph revives the drama of elimination-style racing, which could boost viewership and engagement during the playoff stretch. Sponsors and teams may also reassess the value of mid-pack drivers who can deliver under pressure, while van Gisbergen's exclusion could influence how road-course specialists allocate their schedules going forward.