Ryan Preece secured a dramatic victory in The Clash held on Wednesday at Bowman Gray Stadium, overcoming a chaotic race full of weather disruptions and multiple cautions. The 23-car NASCAR field battled a mix of dry and wet conditions, with teams switching to rain tires midway, making this a test of skill and strategy for all competitors.
Ryan Preece Climbs from the Back to Claim Victory in The Clash
The race started under clear conditions after days of winter storm delays, but challenges quickly mounted as the record 17 caution flags slowed the event. Preece, driving the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford, began the 200-lap clash in 18th position. Early in the race, the limited number of cautions prevented significant positional gains.
Preece described the physical toll his car endured:
“Man, they all hit me, I feel bad for Roush Yates Engines right now because that thing is bouncing off the chip pretty hard. I’ve got to thank Ford, Ford Racing and everybody there with all the support they give us.”
?Ryan Preece, Driver
The midpoint of the race brought rain just as the drivers took a scheduled caution and an eight-minute pit stop, forcing a shift to Goodyear rain tires. As the race turned into a wet weather event, the cautious conditions led to numerous spins and incidents, resulting in 14 more cautions. It was during this challenging second half that Preece’s skill on the 0.25-mile oval allowed him to navigate through the field.
On lap 157, Preece took the lead, holding steady despite the pressure, and claimed his first NASCAR Cup Series exhibition win, joining legends Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin in achieving this feat.
Experience on Small Tracks Helped Preece Excel on Rain-Soaked Oval
Ryan Preece’s background racing open-wheel Modifieds in New England provided him with the expertise necessary for Bowman Gray’s tight quarter-mile track, especially under tricky wet conditions. He highlighted the importance of tactful driving on short tracks, balancing aggression and caution to avoid costly mistakes.
Preece said,
“As far as emotions go, when you work as hard as I have, I hate talking about it because I hate getting emotional about it, but it’s not just the Clash – winning means everything to me. I’ve put a lot into it.”
?Ryan Preece, Driver
He added,
“I’m a quarter-mile killer. When it comes to this style of racing it’s what I grew up doing. I think the short track side of understanding how to not get bullied, but understand you don’t want to piss somebody off. There’s a balance. I definitely didn’t want a caution.”
?Ryan Preece, Driver
In the final laps, Preece was cautious not to overextend himself.
“I was kind of pacing myself those last 10 laps because I didn’t want to run them down and put ourselves in that position, to have to put myself in a bad position.”
He also reflected on the late-race restarts, stating,
“We had a couple of restarts go our way and before you know it, you’re in the front two rows. I’m speechless man, those last two laps…I’m just speechless.”
?Ryan Preece, Driver
Leading Contenders Trail Preece in Final Standings
Despite Preece’s rise to the front, several seasoned race winners remained in close contention. William Byron, a two-time Daytona 500 champion, finished second, while 2022 NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney came in third. Daniel Suarez, the recent race winner at this venue, ended the race fourth. Denny Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, completed the top five.
Preece expressed the significance of the win, saying,
“The moment to get here, it’s a lead up to the year and it’s not a points race, but winning means everything. Man, I’m just speechless.”
?Ryan Preece, Driver
The early stages of the race featured only three caution flags, contrasting with the frenetic second half which shaped much of the final results.
Anticipation Builds for the Upcoming Daytona Events
Following the intense experience at Bowman Gray Stadium, attention now turns to Daytona International Speedway, where the official NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off. Practice and qualifying sessions for the Daytona 500 will be held starting next Wednesday, February 11. These sessions will determine the starting positions, including the front row.
The Duels at Daytona, scheduled for Thursday night, will finalize the starting lineup for the famous Great American Race on Sunday, February 15. For Ryan Preece and many others, the momentum gained from The Clash will be critical as the season’s marquee event approaches.
