Ryan Preece wins Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona

Ryan Preece secured his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 held at Daytona International Speedway. Driving for RFK Racing, Preece won during an overtime restart after navigating a series of crashes in the final laps.

The victory was critical for Preece, as it allowed him to secure one of the final spots in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase playoffs. He joined teammate Chris Buescher and Austin Cindric in qualifying for the postseason. The dramatic finish also saw Shane van Gisbergen finish 28th following late-race incidents, which cost him a position in the Chase.

Following the race, RFK Racing driver-owner Brad Keselowski expressed validation for his organizational philosophy, which focuses on engineering and pit execution rather than placing blame on drivers. Keselowski noted that having both of his drivers lock into the postseason grid proves the team's strategic direction is working.