At Bowman Gray Stadium on race night, Ryan Preece secured his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series win driving the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. This victory not only marked a personal milestone for Preece but also solidified the Mustang Dark Horse’s presence in the competitive Cook Out Clash event, held annually at the iconic short track.
Ford’s Continued Success and Historic Names Joining Preece
Preece became the eighth different Ford driver to claim a win in the Clash, joining elite company with Bill Elliott, Geoffrey Bodine, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski. This triumph represents Ford’s 11th overall victory at the Clash, underlining the manufacturer’s strong legacy in this high-profile race.
Additionally, the win was significant for co-owner Jack Roush, who had not seen a victory at the Clash since Mark Martin’s success in 1999, indicating a notable return to form for his team.
Preece Reflects on Emotions and Significance in Victory Lane
Following his win, Ryan Preece expressed deep emotions about the accomplishment during his Victory Lane interview. He acknowledged the challenges his engine endured throughout the race, saying,
“Man, they all hit me. I feel bad for Roush Yates Engines right now because that thing is bouncing off the chip pretty hard. I’ve got to thank Ford, Ford Racing and everybody there with all the support they give us. As far as emotions go, when you work as hard as I have, I hate talking about it because I hate getting emotional about it, but it’s not just the Clash – winning means everything to me. I’ve put a lot into it.” – Ryan Preece, Driver
Preece also shared why winning at Bowman Gray Stadium holds special meaning to him, saying,
“I’m a quarter-mile killer. When it comes to this style of racing it’s what I grew up doing. I used to drive for a guy, Eddie Partridge, and he owned Riverhead Raceway, and I was racing for Bill Park and it’s an absolute grind. The moment to get here, it’s a lead up to the year and it’s not a points race, but winning means everything. Man, I’m just speechless.” – Ryan Preece, Driver
Strategy and Adaptability Key to Victory in Changing Track Conditions
The Clash featured rapidly shifting track conditions – from dry to wet and then drying again – demanding quick adaptations from drivers. Preece credited his experience in short-track racing for his ability to navigate these challenges, explaining,
“Just having lanes go my way. I think the short track side of understanding how to not get bullied, but understand you don’t want to piss somebody off. There’s a balance. I definitely didn’t want a caution. I was kind of pacing myself those last 10 laps because I didn’t want to run them down and put ourselves in that position to have to put myself in a bad position. I usually give a good interview, but this is just amazing.” – Ryan Preece, Driver
Other Ford Drivers Showcase Strong Performances
Alongside Preece’s top finish, several other Ford drivers delivered competitive results. Ryan Blaney secured third place after a tumultuous night that saw him rise from the back of the field, while Chris Buescher finished eighth. Joey Logano and Josh Berry rounded out solid efforts, placing 11th and 12th respectively, with Austin Cindric finishing 21st. These results reflect the strength and depth of the Mustang Dark Horse lineup in this event.
Ryan Blaney Discusses Challenges with Weather and Car Handling
Ryan Blaney offered insight into his fluctuating performance throughout the race, highlighting the difficulty of adapting to mixed weather conditions. Describing his experience, Blaney said,
“A pretty wild day. From the race, we were really, really good in the dry. I thought we were the best car by a mile the first half, driving from 16th to fourth and I was really looking forward to getting the second half going and then it started raining. A wintry mix I guess you could call it, and then the rain tires went on and when we fired off in the rain I went straight backwards. I wasn’t good. My car wasn’t handling good, and then as it started to dry out my car came back. Even on the wet tires, my car came back a little bit and we were able to pick a couple good lanes and creep through there and ended up third. Overall, a back and forth night, but I’m proud of the effort and proud of a really fast car in the dry, and then just sticking with it in the wet.” – Ryan Blaney, Driver
Blaney further described the complexities of racing on a track with shifting conditions, noting,
“It’s odd. Honestly, I was pretty nervous because our car was so good in the dry. When you just throw wets on it you can’t really adjust anything. I’m like, ‘Uh oh, I don’t know if we’re gonna be very good,’ because what my car did really good in the dry is not what you really want in the wet, so I was nervous about that. But, I was just looking forward to it to stop raining and hopefully get somewhat of a dry lane going on and it eventually did. My car came back a little bit. It still handles way different on wet tires, but it’s pretty fun as a driver. When it first got raining it was really top dominant. The bottom was so slippery and you saw a bunch of guys that couldn’t really pass anybody, but once the dry lane started and kind of started working down you could have a little more options, so that makes it fun as a driver. An ever-changing racetrack is neat and trying to look at the track lap to lap like, ‘Alright, did it get a little bit drier higher up or lower?’ That’s what is fun for a driver. We don’t do it that often, so it’s neat when we can do it.” – Ryan Blaney, Driver
Implications for Ford Racing and Upcoming NASCAR Season
Ryan Preece’s win in the Ford Mustang Dark Horse at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium not only highlights his driving skill but also underscores the performance capacity of Ford’s vehicles in diverse conditions. With strong finishes across multiple Ford drivers, the team’s adaptability and strategic race management were clearly on display.
This victory, especially in such a challenging and rapidly changing environment, sets an encouraging tone for Ford Racing’s competitive prospects in the upcoming NASCAR season. Preece’s breakthrough success may energize the team and fans alike as they prepare for more intense on-track battles ahead.
