In a NASCAR driver’s life of individual ambition and team loyalty, even the tiniest of decisions matter. And sometimes, yielding a track position carries more weight than other decisions. Moments like these test not only a driver’s judgment but their priorities. One memorable instance occurred in 2017 at Richmond. Joey Logano, needing a win to secure a playoff spot, received a crucial late-race push from teammate Brad Keselowski. These choices, while often unseen, shape the playoff picture in ways most fans never notice. On Sunday, at the Iowa Speedway, that familiar tension returned. Only this time, the sacrifice came from Ryan Preece, who, despite battling for his own playoff life, stepped aside for team boss Brad Keselowski.
Following a gritty top-five finish at the Iowa Corn 350, Preece pulled no punches. He admitted to what happened late in the race. While fans saw a clean pass on track, the reality was layered. Both Preece and Keselowski sit outside the playoff cutline and are unlikely to make the postseason on points alone. In that sense, every race is a high-wire act with a single goal: win or go home. And yet, ironically, if Keselowski had won the race, it would have hurt Preece, as the result would have shrunk the number of playoff spots available for the NASCAR drivers. That tension hung thick as both RFK Racing drivers hovered near the front late in the race. And when the moment came, Preece knew what he had to do.
Ryan Preece shows his selfless side and thinks with a team-first mindset
As the laps wound down and Preece’s No. 60 Ford began to loosen up, the RFK driver knew his options were narrowing. Brad Keselowski, charging forward with fresher tires, more fuel, and cleaner air, closed the gap. Preece reflected on this moment later. “Even though I’d hate losing another spot, I knew it was the right thing to do with how fast he was at the time,” he said.
And then came the bluntest confession of all. When asked if he would have done the same had Keselowski not been his teammate, Preece didn’t hesitate before saying, “No. Well, he’s my owner. He’s my teammate and owner. He’s part of the group that signs my check. I wanna do the best thing I can for him and do what’s right for the company.” Despite knowing it could harm his own playoff chances, Preece opted for the larger organizational goal and operated with a team mindset rather than a selfish one.
While the pass may have looked clean and routine to onlookers, Preece was juggling the broader playoff picture in his head. “If I… felt like I could challenge the 19 or the 24 for a win, I would have raced,” he said. It was a brutal moment of self-awareness. Preece’s weekend had already been a minor miracle. He’d recovered from as deep as 26th place thanks to a furious early restart. But as his car lost its edge, he faced a choice. “At that point in time, it was damage control,” Preece said. That calculus, made in real-time at over 150 miles per hour, spoke to the pressures of life on the playoff bubble, especially for someone like Preece, whose playoff seat still remains uncertain.
Ryan Preece on being so loose late in the race and giving up the position to Brad Keselowski knowing if Keselowski won, it would hurt Preece’s playoff hopes (Keselowski finished third; Preece fifth at Iowa). pic.twitter.com/1A7NEbrCoU
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 4, 2025
Despite both Keselowski and Preece finishing inside the top five, neither driver managed to secure a postseason berth at Iowa. The playoff cutline remains tight, with Preece cutting his deficit to Chris Buescher down to just 23 points. With three regular-season races remaining, including Watkins Glen and Daytona, every lap moving forward is crucial. But if Sunday proved anything, it is that Preece is willing to play the long game. Even if that means a short-term sacrifice.
RFK regaining form with consecutive top-5 finishes
In NASCAR, finishing two cars in the top five in consecutive races is a rare feat, especially for a team like RFK Racing. Both Brad Keselowski and Ryan Preece posted top‑five finishes at Indianapolis and Iowa Speedway. At Indianapolis, Preece and Keselowski finished P4 and P5 respectively, and the recent Iowa race saw Preece finishing 5th, two places below his team boss Keselowski, who finished 3rd.
And it’s been a while since the team had pulled a feat like this. NASCAR Insights posted on X, saying, “This is the first time RFK Racing has had multiple cars finish Top-5 in back-to-back races since Texas and Kansas in the Spring of 2012”. Despite Preece’s self‑sacrificial move at Iowa to end this drought, he and Keselowski once again delivered strong results, reinforcing RFK’s upward trajectory as the playoffs loom.
As RFK rides a wave of momentum, the stakes remain high. Neither driver has clinched a playoff spot yet. With three regular‑season races remaining, the pressure is on to translate this consistency into postseason qualification. In that context, Preece’s willingness to yield to Keselowski underscores RFK’s balancing act between individual ambition and collective gain.
RFK Racing’s recent form signals a team on the rise. Meanwhile, even amid personal sacrifice, both Preece and Keselowski have proved their collective strength. With very few races remaining, their situation will certainly be tight. Do you think they will qualify for the playoffs? Let us know in the comments.
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