Ryan Preece earns huge win in Daytona thriller, eliminating Shane Van Gisbergen from the Chase

Ryan Preece achieved a remarkable victory in a NASCAR Cup Series race at the Daytona International Speedway, dethroning Shane Van Gisbergen from the Chase. Starting his 249th career race, Preece secured the win under caution, leading Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell. The triumph propelled Preece into the Chase, while eliminating Van Gisbergen in a shocking upset.

Overwhelmed by the win, Preece expressed his gratitude to OIKOS, Kroger, RFK, Jack Roush, the Fenway Group, Brad Keselowski, and all the team members for their support. He highlighted the preparedness of the race cars and the team's determination. The race was marked by constant action, especially in the top lane, with the short opening stage featuring the main bubble drivers at the front.

Early on, Chase Elliott led the field from pole position, with Mark Martin waving the green flag. The race's new rules package generated excitement, but the top lane dominated the action. Preece made his presence felt at the front of the field, and despite various lead changes, no major incidents occurred in Stage 2. However, on the final lap, A. Dillon touched the wall but continued.

With the final 60 laps, cars battled three-wide, with Chastain leading a group of Chevrolets onto pit road. Despite having just five cars, they outperformed the larger pack. When the race resumed, Logano took the lead, and Preece maintained second place as the race progressed. However, Smith crashed, leading to overtime and a chaotic race finish.