Ryan Preece wins at Daytona to take
the final playoff spot in NASCAR's Cup Series
[August 31, 2026]
By MARK LONG
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Known for two violent wrecks at Daytona
International Speedway, Ryan Preece experienced a much different
ride at NASCAR's hometown track Saturday night: a trip to victory
lane.
Preece won the Cup Series regular-season finale at Daytona in
overtime to secure the final playoff spot for Roush Fenway
Keselowski Racing.
Preece, who ferociously flipped cars at Daytona in 2023 and again in
2025, moved to the front during a green-white-checkered finish when
leader Zane Smith got bumped, started spinning and slammed into
other cars on the last lap. Preece took the checkered flag under
caution and edged Shane van Gisbergen for the 16th and final berth
in the postseason finale.
“This is redemption,” said Preece, whose victory landed two RFK cars
into the 16-driver Chase for the championship. Chris Buescher is the
other.
“I’m just speechless right now,” Preece said. “Those guys, that 60
(car), we’re fighters. 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.”
Preece expressed confidence all week, but he found himself needing a
victory late to pass Shane van Gisbergen for the last playoff spot.
Van Gisbergen finished 27th after pitting during the final caution
and taking four tires.
“Shame we’re not in it,” said van Gisbergen, who won twice during
the regular season but missed the playoffs under NASCAR's new format
that puts more emphasis on season-long results that victories.
Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric locked up the other two available
spots. Wallace, Cindric, van Gisbergen, Preece and Brad Keselowski
started the night vying for the final three spots in the 10-race
Chase.
Wallace, who was nearly a lock to make the 16-driver field when the
green flag dropped, claimed his spot with a seventh-place finish in
the opening stage. Cindric avoided trouble all night, finished sixth
and advanced without much fanfare.
Daniel Suarez finished second in the race, followed by Michael
McDowell, Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Van Gisbergen won Stage 1 and created more of a cushion on Preece,
who was caught up in a three-car crash as he neared the finish line.
Preece raced his way back to the front in Stage 2 and picked up
much-needed points with a second-place finish behind Ryan Blaney.
But it came down to the final lap. Preece needed to win to get in —
and he pulled it off in dramatic fashion.
“I’m a racer. I know what it takes to build speed,” Preece said. “So
every man and woman at RFK, thank you for giving me a rocket ship so
I could go to the moon tonight.”
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Chase Elliott (9) leads Ryan Preece (60) through the front stretch
at the half way point of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona
International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach,
Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Cruise planning ‘Days of Thunder’ follow-up
Tom Cruise is getting back behind the wheel for a follow-up to “Days
of Thunder.” The 64-year-old Cruise announced Saturday at Daytona he
will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle.
He said he wants to show audiences “the speed, the excitement and
all that danger and stuff.”
Anne Hathaway will co-star as a team owner and engineer in the film
scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures on June 2, 2028.
Jimmie Johnson unveils paint scheme for final Daytona 500
Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will drive a
familiar-looking No. 48 in his final Cup Series start. Johnson
unveiled his paint scheme for his Toyota in the 2027 Daytona 500 by
driving a ceremonial lap around the track before Saturday’s race.
The gray-and-blue scheme melds the three main sponsors during
Johnson’s record-setting racing career: Lowe’s, Ally and Carvana.
Johnson’s final start will come in the 69th running of the Daytona
500, scheduled for Feb. 21, 2027. Hendrick Motorsports loaned
Johnson the No. 48 for his last ride.
“Seeing this car for the first time brings back a lifetime of
memories,” Johnson said.
Riley Herbst sits because of “lingering effects” from crash
Riley Herbst was scratched from the race because of “lingering
effects” from a crash last weekend. Harrison Burton replaced Herbst
in the No. 35 Toyota and finished 12th.
Herbst was involved in a crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last
Sunday, with his car backing into the outside barrier before being
struck again.
Up next
The 10-race Chase for the championship begins at Darlington Raceway
next Sunday.
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