RFK Racing is often overlooked. Brad Keselowski’s team hasn’t had the best start to the NASCAR season, but it seems like they are finally hitting their stride. The team’s newest recruit flipped in the season-opening Daytona 500, but if recent results are anything to go by, there are plenty of positives he can take from them. Two top-ten finishes in the last two races are hardly anything to scoff at, and the veteran racer will look to build on that momentum at the upcoming Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway.
The driver, of course, is Ryan Preece. With his pit crew showcasing a masterclass at Homestead-Miami, could a similar performance at ‘The Paperclip’ propel him to a potential victory? Time will tell. In a recent conversation with Claire B Lang, Preece reflected on his pit crew’s recent success and if he ever anticipated such a rise in just his first season with RFK Racing.
Ryan Preece expresses gratitude towards his new NASCAR team
It’s not often acknowledged, but NASCAR is as much a team sport as any other. While the driver gets the majority of plaudits, and some might argue rightly so, without the help of a trusty crew chief, spotter, and pit crews, getting a result would be impossible. Ryan Preece knows the importance of his No. 60 crew all too well, particularly after their jaw-dropping performance at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The team managed to get an 8.69-second stop at the 2025 Straight Talk Wireless 400, which undoubtedly contributed to his ninth-place finish.
Giving credit where it’s due, Ryan Preece reflected on the expectations from his pit crew when he joined RFK Racing after being forced to leave a closing Stewart-Haas Racing last season. Preece marveled at their job but admits that he had no idea how good they would be. Preece candidly told NASCAR journalist Claire B Lang, “I will praise them (pit crew) when they are doing days like they did at Homestead. Just as far as the pit crew side, knowing they were gonna be good? That’s not me. I feel Brad and Jack, RFK Racing, and Fenway Group, they’ve done a phenomenal job, giving me every great opportunity I can have. Really appreciative of the group we have right now and the things we’re building on.”
Preece giving credit to Brad Keselowski and the rest of the owners reflects a sentiment that RFK Racing is always a team effort. This sentiment was emphasized by Brad Keselowski recently, when he addressed the entire crew to uplift spirits amidst some bad results. “Innovative. Professionalism. Relentless. Teamwork.” These were the four words Keselowski presented to his crew during a motivational talk. It seems like this call for success has worked, as the pit crew is firing on all cylinders, and Preece is as motivated as ever.
Preece hasn’t hidden the fact that he sees a “want to win” from the No. 60 group. That hunger and desire to succeed is coming across as the team is collectively exceeding expectations. Let’s not forget that this is a group that is working together for the first time this season, and crew chief Derrick Finley has high expectations. The fruits of their hard work are already paying off, as the 34-year-old finished third at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and ninth at Homestead-Miami. Now, the focus is to get his first win in his NASCAR Cup Series career.
The No. 60 team threw down an 8.69 second stop at @HomesteadMiami , and @RyanPreece_ took off saying on the radio: “YOU GUYS ARE GANGSTERS.” as he commended them on their stop.
I asked Preece about that this week – as he looks to @MartinsvilleSwy with a really fast… pic.twitter.com/2FS57ZfmN1
— Claire B Lang (@ClaireBLang) March 28, 2025
Praising his crew chief’s role in the pit crew’s efficiency, Ryan Preece said, “I think Derrick [Finley] has done a great job of managing the group because this is a new group.” The racer has had his fair share of bad luck already this year. He finished 15th at Phoenix Raceway after leading 34 laps and flipped down the backstretch at Daytona International Speedway during the season-opener. The 34-year-old also had a fuel pressure issue at the Circuit of The Americas, forcing him to finish 33rd despite leading three laps and winning the second stage.
Even though the No. 60 group has gone under the radar in recent weeks, Brad Keselowski wouldn’t have it any other way. They have been getting the job done quietly, performing when it matters to secure one top-five and two top-ten finishes so far. With Martinsville on the horizon, will Ryan Preece manage to break his winless streak at the short track? Time will tell. However, the oddsmakers will be favoring the veteran, especially after a few promising performances under his belt.
Preece opens up about his chances at the Cook Out 400
Ryan Preece is no rookie. With five NASCAR Cup Series seasons under his belt, the Connecticut native has been there and done that at the highest level. However, his performances so far have left much to be desired, as he has finished no higher than 23rd in the drivers’ standing so far. However, after a tumultuous few years with Stewart-Haas Racing, a breakthrough with Brad Keselowski’s team is the biggest opportunity he has had.
Determined not to let it pass by, Preece is looking forward to the upcoming race at Martinsville Speedway. Sharing his expectations, he said, “I feel like our chances are good. I feel like over the past few years, we’ve qualified really well at Martinsville, especially with this tire. I think it’s something that I’m looking forward to, things that I could definitely do better, and hopefully do those things on Sunday. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to it, just being my background of short track racing, and I’ve had success at Martinsville – not in the Cup Series, but in modifieds, and obviously, this form of racing suits my style.”
If Preece can translate his success from his Whelen Modified Tour days, then there’s no stopping him. In 2008, driving for Jan Boehler’s racing team, Preece secured his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory at Martinsville Speedway. Fast forward to 2023, and Preece picked up his second Martinsville modified victory, this time driving for his father, Jeff Preece.
Expectations will be high from Ryan Preece going into the next fixture. After all, he finished ninth in last year’s iteration of Martinsville’s spring race, a result he will aim to build on. The 34-year-old has his eyes on the prize, as he said, “I do feel like if we unload with a bunch of speed, yeah, we can go win that race.” Do you think he will be able to secure a triumph at ‘The Paperclip’ in the upcoming race? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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