76 years later: The shared history of Ryan Preece and NASCAR's forgotten champion
2026 has been a fun season for NASCAR fans interested in numerology, specifically in relation to race-winning car numbers. Tyler Reddick was the first driver to ever win the Daytona 500 with the No. 45, while it also became the 31st different car number to win NASCAR's biggest race. Shane van Gisbergen finally got to drive his No. 97 in the Cup Series, and was the first driver in 21 years to ...…
In 2026, NASCAR fans witnessed a unique moment as Ryan Preece became the champion associated with the No. 60 car number. This was significant because the No. 60 had not won a Cup race in 76 years. Preece's victory came during his 249th start in the Daytona 500, securing the 16th and final Chase spot while also clinching his first points-paying win as a Cup driver.
The No. 60 had previously started over 400 Cup races, making it a historic number. Before its return to the Cup Series in 2024, it hadn't won a race in 13 years. The No. 60 has a storied history, having been driven by Bill Rexford in 1950, who was the youngest champion in NASCAR Cup history at just 23 years old. Rexford's win came in the sixth race run by the No. 60, marking a special moment for the number.
Despite Rexford never making it into the Hall of Fame, he remains an essential figure in NASCAR history.
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