Ryan Preece earned the pole position for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway on Friday night by posting the fastest qualifying time. Driving the No. 60 Kroger/Kleenex Ford for Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing, Preece claimed his second career Cup Series pole, with his previous pole earned earlier this year at Martinsville. Preece’s strong qualifying effort sets him up to lead the field when the 400-lap race takes place on Saturday night.
Breakdown of Preece’s Qualifying Performance
This pole is a milestone for both Preece and the No. 60 car, marking just the third pole in the car’s history and the first since Boris Said’s qualifying win at Daytona in 2006. It is also RFK Racing’s first pole since Brad Keselowski took the top spot at Texas in September 2022, increasing the team’s total poles in Cup Series history to 92. Specifically at Richmond Raceway, this pole is the team’s eighth overall and the first in over a decade since Carl Edwards earned it in 2010.
Preece reflected on his run, stating,
“When I drove it off into turn one, I know I got it all because the amount of time I drove it in there versus the grip she potentially had was definitely on the limit,”
and added,
“It felt really good and Derrick (Finley) made great adjustments, along with the entire No. 60 RFK team and I’m just proud to have Kroger and Kleenex on the car this weekend.”
Team Strategy and Support Behind the Pole Win
Starting from the pole offers a strategic advantage for Preece and the RFK Racing team. He expressed confidence in his crew, noting,
“Having the opportunity to start from the pole is going to make our job quite a bit easier as far as keeping control of the race.”
He continued,
“I trust Derrick, Brent and Matt to make the right decision and give us the best opportunity to be on the best strategy, have the best track position, have the best pit stops and execute a great race.”
Preece’s teammates contributed solid performances in qualifying as well, with Brad Keselowski starting sixth and Chris Buescher qualifying 12th. Their positions will provide RFK Racing strong representation throughout the race.
Upcoming Race Details and Preece’s Momentum
Preece enters Saturday’s 300-mile, 400-lap race with recent momentum, having recorded two top-five finishes in his last three starts. The race coverage is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, with radio broadcasts available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
With the pole position secured at Richmond Raceway, Ryan Preece and RFK Racing are positioned to compete strongly for victory, potentially capitalizing on their qualifying success to control the race pace and strategy.
