Preece Extends Hot Streak With Third Straight Top 10

Ryan Preece (Scotte Sprinkle/Race Face Digital photo)

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Ryan Preece showed not only his short-track prowess, but also that he’s becoming a consistent force in the NASCAR Cup Series, with a top-10 effort in Sunday afternoon’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway.

Preece, who finished seventh for his best finish at Martinsville, collected his third consecutive top-10 finish in the Cup Series to set a career-best streak in the process.

“I didn’t expect that one,” Preece said. “Honestly, it all started with me messing up in qualifying and putting us back there.”

Though Preece did start in the middle of the field after qualifying 21st, he was able to work his way forward both early and late in the race, spending more than 100 laps inside the top 15 and getting as high as second at one point.

“Ultimately, we got some great stage points and some great calls and great adjustments on the box got this Fastenal Ford Mustang where it needed to be,” said Preece. “We’ve got some work to do to be able to drive through like some other cars do, but I think we’ve got some good ideas and obviously a little luck went our way today.

“I’m proud of everybody on this Fastenal Ford Mustang and everybody at RFK. We’ve just got to keep working and keep grinding.”

Preece now has four top 15s in his last five Martinsville starts, and RFK Racing has six total top-10 finishes in the past five Cup Series races between Preece and teammate Chris Buescher.

“All of our Ford Mustangs are really good. Honestly, [the team] made the right adjustment when it mattered,” Preece noted. “There are some guys that hit it early and then they fell off. For us, we were at our best there at the end, so I’m just proud of everybody. I’m happy. We’re getting on a roll.

“This is a place I wanted to take advantage of for points because I felt like Martinsville is in my wheelhouse, so I’m happy we did. I hate talking about points, but every bit matters.”

Having collected a pair of wins at the half-mile ‘paper clip’ with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, as well as his lone Cup Series pole back in 2023, Preece’s “wheelhouse” statement has some merit to it.

Preece also touched on points. Having finished seventh in the opening stage of the race, Preece collected four bonus points toward his season total. Following round seven of the Cup Series season, he sits 14th and is now inside the playoff grid, 15 points above the cut line.

With just one DNF all season and momentum in his favor, Preece and the No. 60 team look to keep grinding heading to Darlington (S.C.) Raceway for the official throwback weekend of NASCAR.

In 10 starts at Darlington, Preece has finished a track-best 12th on two occasions, including his most recent visit to the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval during the Southern 500 last year.

Coverage of the Goodyear 400 begins at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, with in-car camera feeds streaming exclusively on MAX.