The air crackled with anticipation at Daytona International Speedway as the NASCAR Cup Series roared through its final preparations for the 68th Running of the DAYTONA 500. After a week packed with practice sessions, single-car qualifying, and the high-stakes America 250 Florida Duels, Saturday’s last 50-minute practice—often dubbed "Happy Hour"—set the stage for what’s shaping up to be a dramatic season opener. But, in a twist that speaks volumes about the stakes, less than half the starting field even dared to hit the track, opting instead to keep their machines pristine for Sunday’s main event.
Leading the charge was Ryan Preece, who has become the talk of the NASCAR garage this week. Piloting his newly-repaired No. 60 Kroger / Viva Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RFK Racing, Preece clocked the fastest lap of the session at 46.676 seconds—translating to a blistering 192.819 mph. The Connecticut native, fresh off his breakthrough exhibition win at The Clash in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, just two weeks ago, seems to be riding a wave of momentum that’s hard to ignore. "Every win at this level is gonna feel like the first," Preece said at Daytona, his eyes set firmly on adding a points series victory to his resume. "I’ve worked too hard to get here for it not to. There’s been different wins in my career on different stages that have meant a lot to me and winning that first points series race is gonna be a big deal. I hope my kids are there. I hope my family is there when it happens, but that’s the goal for 2026 is win."
Preece’s performance wasn’t a solo act. His RFK Racing teammates, Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski, rounded out the top three, echoing their impressive teamwork from Thursday’s America 250 Florida Duels. The trio, joined by Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano, formed a formidable five-car draft that dominated the speed charts. Keselowski, a co-owner at RFK and a seasoned Cup champion, also posted the best 10-consecutive lap average at 191.510 mph, underlining Ford’s clear supremacy in the session.
It wasn’t just the RFK and Penske stables making headlines, though. Ross Chastain, driving a Chevrolet, slotted in as the sixth-quickest, leading a line of Chevy drivers—Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, BJ McLeod, and Cody Ware—who filled out the next spots on the leaderboard. Notably, BJ McLeod, who had only just secured sponsorship after his unexpected promotion into the Daytona 500 field, made the most of his time on track. The rest of the field was rounded out by drivers like Cole Custer, Ty Dillon, William Byron, Josh Berry, Austin Cindric, Alex Bowman, Casey Mears, and the legendary Jimmie Johnson.
Speaking of legends, Saturday brought a bombshell announcement: seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, the only Toyota driver to participate in the final practice, revealed his intention to retire at the 2027 Daytona 500. Johnson, a two-time winner of "The Great American Race," reflected on his storied career and his hopes for one more shot at glory. "I think we have a real shot at winning the Daytona 500 and putting my name on here again," Johnson declared, his competitive fire undimmed.
With only 18 of the 41 cars choosing to practice, the paddock’s strategy was clear—avoid unnecessary risks before NASCAR’s version of the Super Bowl. Among those who kept their cars in the garage were pole sitter Kyle Busch and second-place starter Chase Briscoe, both banking on their earlier efforts to carry them into Sunday’s main event unscathed. The decision was understandable; after all, the Daytona 500 is notorious for its unpredictability, and no one wants to see their dreams dashed before the green flag even waves.
NASCAR officials also made a key adjustment in response to Mother Nature’s unpredictability, moving the race’s start time up by one hour to 2:13 p.m. Eastern, hoping to dodge an incoming weather system. That little tweak could prove crucial—after all, Daytona’s weather has a habit of throwing curveballs at the last minute, and teams will need to be ready for anything.
For Ryan Preece, Saturday’s smooth run was a far cry from the harrowing moments he’s experienced at Daytona in the past. Just last year, he survived a terrifying crash in the summer race, his car flipping multiple times and sending him to the hospital overnight. The memory of that wreck still lingers, but Preece’s resilience has become part of his legend. NASCAR and Daytona officials responded to that incident by replacing sections of the infield grass with pavement, a move aimed at improving safety for all competitors. Preece’s journey to the top hasn’t been easy—after a stint with Stewart-Haas Racing ended with the team’s closure in 2024, he found a new home at RFK Racing. Since joining the Cup Series full-time in 2015, Preece has made 223 starts, notching 30 top-10 finishes and earning a reputation as one of the sport’s true grinders.
Ford’s dominance in the final practice session is sure to be a talking point heading into the race. With the top five spots locked down by Ford drivers and RFK Racing looking particularly sharp, the blue oval brigade could be poised for something special. But don’t count out the Chevrolet contingent, who filled positions six through thirteen, led by drivers like Chastain and Elliott. William Byron, the two-time defending Daytona 500 champion, found himself 13th in the session but remains a threat when the lights are brightest.
The final practice also marked the end of an era—it was the last NASCAR Cup Series session on a superspeedway for the 2026 season. For the teams and drivers, every lap was a precious opportunity to fine-tune setups, build confidence, and, perhaps most importantly, avoid costly mistakes before the biggest race of the year.
As the sun sets on Daytona Beach and engines cool in the garages, the stage is set for a DAYTONA 500 that promises drama, speed, and a little bit of old-fashioned unpredictability. Will Ryan Preece convert his practice pace into a breakthrough points victory? Can Jimmie Johnson script one more magical moment before his farewell tour? Or will the Chevrolets mount a late charge to upset the Ford party? With the green flag set to drop earlier than planned, fans across the country are settling in for what could be a race for the ages. One thing’s for sure—at Daytona, anything can happen, and with this field, it probably will.