Keselowski revels in Preece’s ‘validating’ Daytona win for RFK

Brad Keselowski looked like a proud father Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway.

Keselowski took off his driver’s hat and, as an owner, celebrated with Ryan Preece in victory lane. It was the first career win for Preece and the first for the RFK Racing organization since 2024. As a team owner, Keselowski experienced the feeling for the seventh time.

“I’ve got four kids, and it reminds me a lot of when they do something you’re really proud of,” said Keselowski. “Similar feeling. Not that Ryan is a kid. He’s definitely not a kid. There’s a feeling of pride that you helped him get there and do those things.”

Jack Roush and Keselowski joined forces in 2022 to rebrand to RFK Racing. The two-car operation expanded to three with the addition of Preece in 2025. Keselowski was bullish on giving Preece an opportunity, and there have been close moments before Saturday night’s triumph.

“It’s such a clutch moment for Ryan to come in and be however many points behind in the Chase,” said Keselowski. “To just drive a great race, go get him a win, with everything on the line. Those are nights that you remember, and those are nights that are really special for him but really special for everyone on this team.”

Preece erased a 31-point deficit with his victory and Shane van Gisbergen being collected in a last-lap crash. It is the first time Preece will be in the postseason. He recovered from being collected in an incident at the end of the first stage, which sent him sliding through the frontstretch grass, and had one of the fastest cars in the field.

RFK Racing will have two teams championship-eligible as Preece joined the previously locked-in Chris Buescher. Keselowski was a long shot to make the Chase and was eliminated after the first stage at Daytona.

“We have our different competition meetings, and I think I upset some people sometimes,” Keselowski said. “I’ll say, ‘I don’t want to hear anything about the drivers.’ I know these are the right drivers. They have a history and track record of success. If we’re not winning, I don’t want to hear about the drivers. I want to hear about the cars, what we’re doing to make them faster, the strategy, the pit crew stuff. 

“That’s how firmly I believe that we have what it takes with drivers that can make the right moves to win. So, it’s really validating for that as well. I think we’re just trying to stay focused, build the best cars we can, build them fast, and build them to stay together and pass tech. All of those things are what we have to do. We try to stay really focused on that because I believe so much in the drivers.

“When Chris goes out and wins or when Ryan goes out and has success, it really helps the focus of the company.”