Known for his grit on track and grace in the garage, Ryan Preece has earned something few drivers ever do, genuine admiration from the crew who live and breathe pit lane pressure. His leadership isn’t loud, but it’s leaving a mark. And now, it might just be RFK’s secret weapon.
Recently, at RFK Racing’s pit practice, Ryan Preece stood out, not for his driving, but for his presence. While most drivers hang back, Preece moved through the garage with purpose, greeting crew members by name and asking thoughtful questions. His approach wasn’t for show, it reflected genuine respect for the team behind the car.
The admiration that stands out inside RFK Racing
Praise in NASCAR garages is rare and often kept quiet, driven by competition and cautious relationships. That’s why the open admiration for Ryan Preece stands out, it breaks the usual silence. So when an RFK insider recently went on record describing Preece’s presence, the words stood out not as routine flattery but as something deeper.
Asked whether Preece really engages with the people around him during pit practice and beyond, the insider confirmed without hesitation: “One hundred percent… he’s been really just a joy to work with… he’s such a good leader to the guys… he’s a good inspiration to them.” The comments painted a picture of a driver who manages to balance accountability with encouragement, something rarer than most fans might assume.
In NASCAR’s high-pressure environment, where pit road errors or setup miscues can cost a team tens of positions, tempers often flare. Yet the description of Preece highlights a driver who aims not to assign blame but to problem-solve collaboratively. “He never really comes down on them… he’ll have serious talks… but it’s always, hey, how can we get better? From that standpoint, he’s been phenomenal… probably the best I’ve ever worked with from that leadership standpoint.”
Derrick Finley has worked with tons of drivers over his career, including multiple champions and Hall of Famers. But he says his current driver @RyanPreece_ is the best he’s ever worked with.
“He’s the whole package.”
More with the No. 60 @RFKracing shot caller on Ep. 283 pic.twitter.com/yoancTo7QM
— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) August 18, 2025
That “best I’ve worked with” phrase is not small praise. Crewmembers in Cup racing often cycle through different drivers and teams during their careers, which means they have a broad perspective on leadership styles. For Preece to be singled out in this way suggests that his efforts at RFK are making a tangible difference. And the insider’s feedback wasn’t limited to garage dynamics.
His reputation on-track connects directly to the atmosphere he builds off-track. “On the track, I think everybody sees… he’s definitely not scared… and working with a guy like that who just goes out and goes for it, runs that hard every lap, is just a pleasure. He’s the whole package.”
That phrase the whole package captures not only driving ability but also relational qualities, the combination that is difficult to find in the Cup Series. Many NASCAR drivers are respected for outright talent, but crews don’t always feel the same about their approach to leadership. The gap between those two worlds is often large. Preece, by contrast, seems to be narrowing that divide at RFK. It also matters that this is happening at a team in the middle of its reinvention.
With competition tighter than ever in the Next Gen era, teams need more than engineering gains to succeed. They need culture, accountability, and trust. Preece’s crewmates see his role as a central piece of that culture. For them to place him among the “best” they’ve had says as much about his value to RFK’s resurgence as any top-10 finish ever could.
Tire tensions at Richmond signal wider stakes for RFK
This weekend’s Richmond Raceway action threw RFK Racing and Ryan Preece into the center of an unfolding tire saga, revealing how team culture and leadership must adapt when the stakes get technical and tempers run high.
Brad Keselowski, RFK co-owner and a driver renowned for his directness, sounded alarms before the Cook Out 400, warning, “We’re in trouble” and “the math ain’t mathing,” as teams grappled with Goodyear’s softer compounds and limited tire allocation.
The numbers behind the concern are stark: with only eight new sets plus the starting tires for a 400-lap race, crew chiefs like Blake Harris worried about wear, strategy, and survival as run lengths stretched perilously close to the edge.
Practice lap data showed these “uber soft” tires meant to add drama and strategic flair struggled to hold grip beyond about 37 laps, and even nighttime cooling may not deliver the hoped-for durability. Keselowski’s warning echoed through the RFK garage, highlighting how leaders must steady the ship when technical risks threaten to upend weeks of planning.
Preece, grounded in the team-first culture his crew praises, finds added urgency: crew interactions and real-time adaptation become invaluable as tire constraints risk turning thrilling strategy into a slow-motion disaster.
Pressure was further amplified by pit road flare-ups, like Carson Hocevar’s heated exchange with Keselowski in Watkins Glen qualifying. With playoff spots on the line and emotions high, small mistakes or misunderstandings, whether with rubber or with rivals, can shake team momentum.
In these moments, the collaborative spirit and grit lauded by Preece’s crew may be RFK’s best defense; a steady leader helps a crew weather controversies, manage tire stints on razor-thin margins, and stay united toward the finish.
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