Ryan Preece defended his decision to part ways with teammate Chris Buescher during the closing laps of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. He emphasized that his choice was a “game-time decision” focused on avoiding being trapped behind the lead car, noting it was “highly unlikely” that both he and Buescher would have successfully navigated past the frontrunners together.
With just six laps remaining, Preece was trailing Justin Haley’s No. 7 car, closely followed by Buescher drafting behind him in sixth place. When Haley briefly took the lead, Preece moved to the outside lane to challenge, effectively pulling away from Buescher and positioning himself for a potential win. This action sparked criticism from some fans and commentators who felt Preece abandoned his teammate in a crucial moment.
Details of the Racing Incident and Its Fallout
Preece’s move to overtake Haley and gain the lead was executed after 33 laps spent in the top five, marking a pivotal moment in the race. While Preece took a more aggressive approach to reach the front, Buescher was left to fend for himself. The split raised questions about teamwork and strategy between Daytona teammates.
In response to the backlash, Preece appeared on the RFK Racing podcast Backstretch Banter to clarify his thinking. He said,
“People can Monday quarterback that all day long, right. ‘Hey, Why would you get rid of your teammate or why would you move away from them?’ But sitting in the position that Chris and I were in, it was highly unlikely we would have ever got clear, both him and I, of the guys on the outside in that moment as well,”
(via X/Steven Taranto, 1:30 onwards).
He continued,
“I didn’t want to get stuck behind the seven and not have an opportunity to win. So that was the game time decision of we need to put ourselves on the front row to take control and have an opportunity to win.”
Impact of Larson and Elliott’s Move to Support Their Teammate
Later in the race, Kyle Larson executed a comparable strategy by abandoning his draft line and shifting to the outside, creating a third lane on the track. This move made it difficult for Preece, who was caught in the middle lane, to respond as other drivers surged past. Preece viewed this maneuver by Larson and Chase Elliott as a tactic designed to protect their Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Alex Bowman, who risked elimination if Preece had won.
Expressing his frustration during a post-race interview with Frontstretch, Preece said,
“The problem is the 9 (Chase Elliott) and the 5 (Kyle Larson) were worried about their teammate that would have been bumped out. So shi**y situation, thought we were going to win that one because we did everything right today and just didn’t work out.”
Although Preece acknowledged the circumstances, he felt disadvantaged by lacking additional allies, stating he needed “more friends” behind him to counter the tactic. However, he absolved the Hendrick Motorsports drivers of any wrongdoing, recognizing that their actions were justified from their standpoint.
Broader Context Involving Alex Bowman and Race Dynamics
Alex Bowman entered the race 60 points above the elimination cutline but faced the risk of being knocked out if a new winner emerged. Early in the event, Bowman’s race was compromised by his involvement in a 12-car crash, which hampered his chances further. The late-race developments involving Larson and Elliott effectively helped Bowman avoid elimination.
Ryan Blaney benefited most from the third lane created by Larson and Elliott, moving up from 13th on the grid to seize the lead. This surge prevented Bowman’s potential knockout and reshaped the race’s final results.
Significance of Preece’s Daytona Team Decision and Its Implications
Ryan Preece’s decision to prioritize his position over his teammate’s at Daytona underscores the tense, split-second choices drivers must make during critical moments. His stance reveals the delicate balance between individual ambition and teamwork in high-stakes racing. The involvement of Larson and Elliott in protecting their teammate only heightened the strategic complexity.
This episode has sparked debate among fans about loyalty, race tactics, and the fine margins between victory and elimination. Moving forward, how drivers manage these situations will remain a point of intense scrutiny, especially at high-profile venues like Daytona International Speedway where every move can have major championship implications.
