Ryan Preece secured Daytona’s first points‑paying win after a chaotic final lap that left Zane Smith out of the finish line.
Preece Surfaces Behind a Pile‑Up
When the white flag turned, Smith was atop the field in his 107th Cup Series start, aiming to become the tour’s 210th distinct winner. His lead broke in the overtime restart, as Ryan Blaney pushed him forward and Preece restarted in position two, following Tyler Reddick.
On the 16th turn, Smith attempted to block Reddick’s sliding entry by shifting first to the middle lane and then to the top. Reddick, staying behind the opponent, saw the move, slid onto Smith’s bumper, and lost control in the corner. The rear of Smith’s vehicle slammed the outside wall, creating a multi‑car collision that sent several vehicles from the lead pack into the infield.
Smith Exits the Track, Finishes 32nd
The wreck stopped the 38‑car before it could cross the finish line, and Smith was forced into a 32nd position in his hometown race. Outside the infield care center, the driver said simply, “I just got wrecked.” He added that he had not yet reviewed a replay and felt that the late block left no room to survive the close encounter. He agreed that the field was in a “case of everybody going for the win.”
Reddick Survives the Clash, Finishes Third
Reddick claimed third place, describing his maneuver as unavoidable when the 38‑car committed a deep block. He noted, “If you lift you lose the push and momentum; I couldn’t lift, so I either hit him or got clear.” The incident highlights the razor‑thin margin between tactical aggression and a race‑breaking mishap at Daytona’s superspeedway.
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