On February 15, during the 2026 Daytona 500, Ryan Preece astonished NASCAR fans by crossing the finish line in reverse at the famed 2.5-mile tri-oval speedway. While Tyler Reddick captured his first-ever Daytona 500 victory that day, Preece’s unusual finish, where the trunk led instead of the front of his car, quickly became a viral sensation among the NASCAR community.
Preece, driving for RFK Racing, had previous incidents flipping and crashing at Daytona, but this time he completed the race in an unforgettable fashion. His reverse finish did not prevent him from completing the race in 25th place, narrowly avoiding a Did Not Finish (DNF) result.
Social Media Buzz and Reactions from NASCAR Members
Recently, Preece shared a video showing him driving a Ford truck backward into the RFK Racing headquarters, further fueling excitement around his antics. The video attracted hundreds of comments, including those from veteran drivers and team owners. Preece playfully captioned the post,
“Rollin’ into the shop from Daytona. Consistency is key.”
Former NASCAR driver Mark Martin responded humorously,
“Polishing those skills 🤣”
Additionally, Rick Mast contributed laughing emojis in the comments, while RFK Racing added a humorous note,
“Rumor has it Ryan’s running on the treadmill backwards right now.”
Performance Highlights and Career Context for Ryan Preece at Daytona
Leading into the 2026 Daytona 500, Ryan Preece showcased strong speed by dominating practice sessions with a top lap clocking 192.819 mph. In his qualifying duel race, he secured ninth place, demonstrating competitive form ahead of the main event. Although he did not finish near the front, completing the race without incident after previous challenges at Daytona was a notable achievement.
Ryan Preece’s Milestone Win in Early 2026 NASCAR Season
Earlier in the year, Preece claimed his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series victory by winning the 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. This non-points season-opening race tested Preece’s skill on the tight, tricky track, with the win placing him among an elite group of drivers who have won the Clash prior to earning a points-paying Cup Series race victory. Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin are the other two drivers with this distinction.
Reflecting on the Cook Out Clash win, Preece commented,
“We had a really good car,”
This is much as a mental game as it is anything. We had a couple restarts go our way.
It’s been years and years of grinding. I’m super thankful for Brad Keselowski and all our partners,
Now in his second season driving the No. 60 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing, co-owned by former champion Brad Keselowski, Preece continues to build his presence in the NASCAR Cup Series. Before joining RFK, he drove the No. 41 car for Stewart-Haas Racing, and he has an accomplished history in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with 26 victories.
Next Steps in Ryan Preece’s Racing Schedule
Following Daytona, Preece is set to compete in the Autotrader 400 at the EchoPark Speedway on February 21. Fans can watch the event live on FOX starting at 3 p.m. ET or follow live radio coverage through PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. This race will offer Preece another platform to showcase his driving talents and continue building momentum early in the season.
Polishing those skills 🤣 https://t.co/0oCLh3zs8r
— Mark Martin (@markmartin) February 17, 2026
🤣🤣
— Rick Mast (@rickmast22) February 18, 2026
Rumor has it Ryan’s running on the treadmill backwards right now 🏃 https://t.co/jLv6Zs77Np
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) February 17, 2026
