On a Wednesday night in Winston-Salem, under conditions that looked more like a blizzard than a stock car race, Ryan Preece finally found his moment.
The road to Bowman Gray Stadium had been long for the 35-year-old. Just two years prior, after the collapse of Stewart-Haas Racing, Preece believed his Cup Series career was over. But on this night, behind the wheel of the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford, he turned that desperation into dominance.
The “Cook Out Clash” was a survival of the fittest. The track was slick, the air was bone-chilling, and the racing was brutal, featuring a record-breaking 17 yellow flags. While pole-winner Kyle Larson dominated the early dry laps, the race shifted in Preece’s favor once the snow and sleet arrived.
Preece seized control on Lap 156 and never looked back, crossing the finish line nearly two seconds ahead of William Byron. Climbing from his car, the tears in Preece’s eyes told the story better than his words ever could.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Preece admitted. “To be honest with you, it’s been a [freaking] long road.”
