Key takeaways
- Maiden Cup victory: Ryan Preece captured his first career NASCAR Cup Series win, leading RFK Racing to victory under caution at Daytona.
- Playoff berth secured: The victory locked Preece into the 16-driver Cup Series Playoffs (Chase), grabbing the final postseason spot.
- SvG eliminated: Two-time 2026 race winner Shane van Gisbergen missed the Playoffs, as winning drivers without sufficient overall points were shuffled out of the final field.
Ryan Preece produced a career-defining performance on Saturday night, surviving multiple crashes to win the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway and claim his first career victory in the sport’s top division.
Preece’s night started with adversity during Stage 1, when he spun in a multi-car incident involving Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher. However, the RFK Racing driver systematically worked his way back into contention, running inside the top 10 by the end of Stage 2.
The race reached a chaotic climax in overtime after Carson Hocevar triggered a crash with Erik Jones while battling for the lead. On the green-white-checkered restart, Zane Smith led the pack but lost control while attempting to block Tyler Reddick, causing a chain-reaction wreck behind him.
NASCAR officials held the green flag until Ryan Blaney spun hard into the outside wall, forcing the final yellow caution flag. At the moment of caution, Preece held the race lead ahead of Daniel Suárez and Reddick, sealing his maiden victory and a dramatic postseason berth.
Preece’s victory locked him into the 16-driver NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, knocking two-time 2026 race winner Shane van Gisbergen out of the postseason field.
The full 16-driver 2026 Playoff field consists of: Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Daniel Suárez, Carson Hocevar, William Byron, Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric, and Ryan Preece.
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Daytona Regular Season Finale – Top 10 Results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Car / Manufacturer | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Preece | RFK Racing | Ford | Winner / Playoff Qualified |
| 2 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | Running |
| 3 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | Running |
| 4 | Michael McDowell | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | Running |
| 5 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | Running |
| 6 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | Running |
| 7 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Running |
| 8 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Running |
| 9 | Josh Berry | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Running |
| 10 | Cole Custer | Haas Factory Team | Ford | Running |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Was this Ryan Preece’s first NASCAR Cup Series victory?
Yes. Ryan Preece earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory by taking the checkered flag at the Daytona regular-season finale.
2. Did Shane van Gisbergen qualify for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs?
No. Despite winning two races during the 2026 regular season, Shane van Gisbergen was eliminated from the 16-driver Playoff field following Ryan Preece’s victory.
3. Which drivers qualified for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff field?
The 16 Playoff drivers are Ryan Preece, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Daniel Suárez, Carson Hocevar, William Byron, Bubba Wallace, and Austin Cindric.
