RFK Racing rolled into Talladega Superspeedway for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series weekend with high expectations. The team was eager to rebound from a string of tough results and capitalize on the superspeedway chaos that often rewards teamwork and bold moves. Brad Keselowski, the team’s co-owner and perennial Talladega threat, was widely seen as their best hope. But, as fate would have it, disaster struck early in Stage 1 for the No. 6 Ford, leaving the RFK camp reeling.
Yet, when the checkered flag waved, it was not the veteran Keselowski but his new teammate, Ryan Preece, who rose to the occasion. In a dramatic turn, Preece delivered a career-best performance, salvaging the day for RFK Racing and proving that sometimes, the most memorable moments come from the most unexpected places.
Ryan Preece narrowly misses a breakthrough at Talladega
When the pressure mounted at Talladega, Ryan Preece rose higher than anyone expected for team RFK. Reflecting on his career-best second-place finish, Preece said, “I felt like this was the most aggressive I’ve raced on a superspeedway.” In a race that saw 65 lead changes among 23 different drivers, Preece remained focused on his goal of survival and keeping RFK Racing alive after Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher faltered early. And with a green flag run for the entire final stage, Preece found himself perfectly positioned to capitalize.
On lap 43, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, and Ryan Blaney got involved in a wreck during an attempted move onto pit road. Then, on lap 52, Chris Buescher suffered heavy damage to his car following a spin. Both these incidents meant that RFK Racing’s hopes now rested squarely on Preece’s shoulders. Yet, he didn’t just survive—he thrived.
Working the draft expertly, he stayed inside the top field for most of the afternoon. “I wish I didn’t have to shade up so much and maybe side draft Austin to pull him,” Preece explained. However, Ryan Preece’s efforts felt short as he finished in second place, just 0.022 seconds short of race winner Austin Cindric. “Ultimately, 2200s short,” Preece shared with a disappointing tone despite securing a career-best finish, “I’m happy, but as a racer, you want to win, right?”
Despite his disappointment, Preece has a lot of positives he can take from the race. It marked his second top-5 finish of the season, a feat he accomplished just once in the entirety of last season with Stewart-Haas Racing. He is showing that with the right equipment, he can be a force of nature, and his performance at Talladega is a testament to his drive to succeed. Preece added, “Thank you to RFK… Without this opportunity, probably be back in Connecticut racing modifieds.”
Ryan Preece not only finished a superspeedway race Sunday at Talladega, but he nearly won it. Instead, it was the second top-five finish for his team in six races.
“I’m happy. But as a racer, you want to win, right?”https://t.co/4dRqewSXvV
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) April 28, 2025
As the laps wound down, the battle intensified. Ford’s Austin Cindric guarded the low line while a determined Preece crept up the high side, overtaking William Byron on Lap 182. Behind them, a Chevrolet trio of William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Alex Bowman loomed. Preece said, “Coming through the tri-oval, I’m, alright, we’re all sticking together, and no one was really leaving me,” reflecting the tense chess match in the final laps.
The Chevrolet drivers ultimately stayed tucked behind, wary of lapped traffic just ahead. That left Cindric and Preece to settle it alone. Preece gave it all he had, but Austin Cindric edged him out at the line. Cindric, himself, had the advantage of a draft from lapped cars which were directly ahead of him. They, eventually, provided the edge that helped him put his car just a yard ahead of Preece in a photo finish. Still, his ferocious charge brought pride to RFK Racing and proved he belonged among NASCAR’s superspeedway elite.
Austin Cindric wins 2025 Talladega, marking a career milestone for Team Penske
Austin Cindric clinched a thrilling victory at the 2025 Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, marking Cindric’s third NASCAR Cup Series win. It is also his first win since June 2024 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. The win was a significant moment for Team Penske, as it represented their 102nd series victory with Ford, and it came after a tumultuous start to the season.
Cindric expressed immense pride in the team’s effort, saying, “We’re gonna celebrate this one at the shop. The guys really deserve it and I couldn’t be happier.” Team Penske has led laps, won stages, and been primed to win multiple races this season, but just not made it past the finish line. Take Austin Cindric’s Daytona 500 run in 2025 as an example. Cindric led the most laps (59) and was side by side with Denny Hamlin on the final lap until a wreck ignited by Cole Custer dropped him to 8th place. This win marks Penske’s first of the season and is a huge boost to the team’s morale, especially considering their surprisingly good pit stop.
Cindric’s journey to the checkered flag was marked by strategic teamwork and resilience. Starting 25th, his crew executed a flawless fuel-only pit stop, helping him gain crucial track position ahead of Ryan Preece. This comes after a season marred by slow pit stops across the Team Penske fold. Cindric credited teammate Kyle Larson for timely drafting assistance, which was pivotal in the final laps. “Kyle did a lot to take care of me, pushing me at the right times in the tri-oval,” Cindric noted.
As the NASCAR Cup Series shifts focus to Texas Motor Speedway next weekend, Team Penske and Cindric will carry the momentum from Talladega’s dramatic finish. The victory at one of NASCAR’s most unpredictable tracks is a testament to Cindric’s skill and the team’s perseverance throughout the season. What did you think of Austin Cindric and Ryan Preece’s Talladega photo finish? Let us know in the comments!
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