Ryan Preece has expressed firm confidence as he prepares for Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, warning his NASCAR Cup Series competitors that he expects to lead the field. The Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK) driver feels his car is exceptionally fast and is determined to convert that speed into a victory, which is crucial for his hopes of qualifying for the playoffs.
Despite Ford Performance’s power on superspeedways, Preece currently stands 18th in the points standings ahead of the season finale, which means he must perform strongly to secure a spot in the postseason. His recent history at Daytona has been challenging, with four finishes of 31st place or worse in the last five races, but his confidence remains unwavering due to the competitiveness of his vehicle.
RFK Drivers Focused on Superspeedway Success and Playoff Hopes
The three RFK drivers, including Preece, are all aiming for a win at Daytona, but Preece is especially vocal in issuing a warning to the rivals. He highlighted the consistent speed of his team’s cars when it comes to superspeedway racing.
“For me, when I sit in our meetings it’s the will to win. I see Chris’s [Buescher] team. I see Brad’s [Keselowski] team. I see our team, and I see fast race cars when we come to superspeedways,”
Preece said.
He also acknowledged the strength of competitors from Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing but emphasized that the RFK team’s three fast cars will be a barrier for anyone hoping to win.
“Honestly, yeah, [Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing] have three cars that are locked in, but we have three race teams that have extremely fast race cars that take control of these races, so if you’re gonna try to win this race, I guarantee you’re gonna have to go through an RFK car to win.”
I feel like we’re in a strong position to get one of our cars in and good luck to the other ones that are gonna have to get through us.
—Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Ford’s Competitive Edge and Preece’s Season Progress
Ford Performance’s consistently powerful packages on superspeedways suggest they could once again be a formidable force this weekend. Preece, who moved from Stewart-Haas Racing, is experiencing his best NASCAR Cup season to date, which contributes to his high level of self-assurance. However, his main goal remains getting a Ford vehicle into victory lane at Daytona.
He stressed the importance of team success beyond individual ambition, underscoring the collective effort of drivers, employees, and the entire organization behind RFK and Ford.
“Whether that be Chris out front or Brad or myself, you want to be selfish as a driver, but understanding the main goal for the company and the employees and everybody there it’s very important that one of these cars gets into the playoffs because our speed, we’ve shown it throughout this year,”
he explained.
Chris has had multiple times where things didn’t come together, myself included as well as Brad, so I think if one of our cars can get into the playoffs, it’s gonna be a serious threat.
—Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Outlook for Daytona and Its Impact on Playoff Contention
As Daytona approaches, Ryan Preece’s declaration signals a tense and competitive showdown where RFK drivers aim to control the race and secure playoff positions. Their performance this weekend will carry significant weight for Ford’s presence in the postseason, with Preece leading the charge to ensure that speed and determination translate into results. Rival teams will have to overcome the RFK challenge if they hope to claim victory and playoff spots at the season’s crucial final race.
