Daytona delivered Ryan Preece a dominant, overtime win that left Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen unable to keep his Chase aspirations alive.
Preece’s Ford took the lead after a front‑end wreck involving Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher and Kyle Larson opened up the track, letting van Gisbergen snag his first oval stage victory and earn ten points.
Van Gisbergen, however, faced a 29‑point cushion and required at least 30 positions back in order to overtake the leader in the final stint—a tall order unless the race ended at the front.
During the final caution, Trackhouse opted for a four‑tire change rather than fueling, keeping van Gisbergen on the lead pack while Preece stayed out and saved his position.
Despite his strategy, van Gisbergen spun on the last lap, finishing 11th, and a 12th‑place finish would have preserved his Chase hopes. Preece tacked on three more points in Stage 2, ending the race with a record‑tying checkered flag.
The scenario shifted further when Austin Cindric survived the melee to finish sixth, rendering van Gisbergen’s four‑point advantage irrelevant.
Team spokesman Shane van Gisbergen said, “One night doesn’t define our year. We’re close, but we didn’t make the Chase.” He noted the team’s oval improvement and road‑course victories yet acknowledged the continued struggle to clinch a playoff spot.
All three Trackhouse entries fell short of qualifying for the 2026 Cup playoffs, a first since the team grew into a multi‑car outfit in 2022. The day underscored that Trackhouse’s on‑track hard work is being eclipsed by an all‑time‑high challenge on the oval track.
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