Ryan Preece secured a remarkable win at the NASCAR Cup Series’ exhibition race, The Clash, held at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem. Though the event carries no championship points, this victory marks Preece’s first at the Cup level in over a decade, validating his trajectory and resilience in the sport. His success at The Clash is the result of a combination of perseverance and the trust placed in him by Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing.
Building Momentum through the 2024 and 2025 Seasons
Before this breakthrough, Preece was brought into RFK Racing in 2024 as their third driver by Brad Keselowski. The opportunity set the stage for his upward progression into the 2025 season. That year, Preece demonstrated consistent performance by finishing inside the top 15 in seven of the last ten races, including four finishes within the top ten in the final five events. This strong run earned him an 18th-place finish in the final standings, which was the best of his Cup career so far, setting up expectations for his current campaign.
Mastering Challenging Conditions to Capture Victory
Starting 18th on the grid, Preece showcased skill and composure on a wet, snow-affected surface where wet-weather tires were necessary. Navigating through a 23-driver field, he advanced steadily and overtook Shane van Gisbergen on Lap 156 following a restart just four laps earlier. Preece then maintained the lead for the remainder of the 200-lap race at Bowman Gray Stadium, crossing the finish line 1.752 seconds ahead of runner-up William Byron.
The race itself was punctuated by repeated disruptions, including 17 cautions that frequently reset the field. Preece’s win is notable as it ended a streak where no winner had started outside the front two rows since the race format shifted to a quarter-mile setup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2022.
Preece Expresses Emotional Relief and Gratitude After Triumph
Visibly emotional, Preece reflected on the long and challenging journey leading to this win.
“I don’t even know what to say. To be honest with you, it’s been a (expletive) long road. It’s the Clash,”
he said.
“But man, it’s just been years and years of grinding. I’m just super thankful for Brad Keselowski, Kroger, Coca-Cola, all our partners, Bam, break open the pappy. Jack Roush, the Fenway Group. Two years ago I didn’t think I was going to have a job. I thought I was going back to Connecticut (tearing up). I’m just super, super emotional.”
– Ryan Preece, NASCAR Cup Series driver
Preece acknowledged the vital role his team played in the victory, praising the performance of his No. 60 RFK Racing Ford Mustang and highlighting the physical and mental endurance needed to steadily climb through setbacks and late-race restarts.
William Byron Delivers Strong Performance Despite Challenges
Finishing second, William Byron recorded his best Clash result to date. Starting from the outside pole position, Byron led 14 laps and battled successfully against teammates before Preece seized the lead. His competitiveness was evident as he tactically nudged teammate Kyle Larson between Laps 71 and 72 to claim the front and held that position through part of the chaotic, wet-tire phase of the race.
Byron managed to avoid the multi-car crashes that took out high-profile drivers like Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott. Over the race’s final segment, he defended his second place against Ryan Blaney to secure his podium finish.
Reflecting on the race, Byron described it as a demanding test that required drivers to adapt constantly.
“It was just a marathon race. I feel like NASCAR did a good job with the rain conditions,”
Byron said.
“I wish we would have had a practice session in the rain, just to kind of understand the characteristics a little better. It just seemed like guys were kind of using each other up. But then it started to dry up there at the end and it was fun. Overall, it was a solid finish and good start to the season for the No. 24 Valvoline Chevrolet team.”
– William Byron, HMS driver
Other Top Finishers and Impact on the Season Outlook
Ryan Blaney claimed third place, followed by Daniel Suárez and Denny Hamlin, who rounded out the top five. Meanwhile, last year’s Clash champion Chase Elliott struggled amid multiple on-track incidents and ended the race in 17th position, having started 11th. The highly competitive and contact-filled nature of the race underscored the unpredictable challenges drivers face in varying conditions.
Ryan Preece’s victory at Bowman Gray signals a potential turning point in his NASCAR Cup career and reflects the growing strength of RFK Racing as a team poised to challenge for more wins. The Clash win will likely boost confidence for Preece and his crew as the season progresses, offering momentum going into points-paying races where consistency and peak performance count. Fans and competitors alike will watch closely to see if this breakthrough leads to further success for Preece and his team.
