Ryan Preece and Shane van Gisbergen clash for Chase spot at Daytona
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 24, 2026, 11:58 PM
Last updated Aug 24, 2026

Ryan Preece faces Shane van Gisbergen for the final Chase spot in the NASCAR Cup Series as they head into the last regular-season race at Daytona on Saturday night. Preece, currently 31 points behind van Gisbergen, finished ninth at New Hampshire last Sunday, narrowing the gap. With the unpredictable nature of Daytona's pack racing and a new rules package, both drivers anticipate a challenging race. Preece aims for his first Chase appearance and is prepared to give it everything against van Gisbergen, who has secured two wins this season.
- •Preece is 31 points behind van Gisbergen entering Daytona.
- •Preece finished ninth at New Hampshire, gaining crucial stage points.
- •Daytona's unpredictable conditions add pressure to the race.
- •Preece's potential Chase spot is affected by a Texas penalty earlier in the season.
- •Van Gisbergen has two wins in road course races this season.
- 11:58 PMYahoo Sports — Ryan Preece Hypes Shane van Gisbergen Chase Bubble Battle: ‘Heavyweight Match’
"Ryan Preece said it's going to be a "heavyweight match" between he and Shane van Gisbergen for a spot in the Chase.
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