Former NASCAR Modified Tour champion and Stafford Speedway and Thompson Speedway regular Ryan Preece was third fastest in qualifying on Wednesday for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series season opening Daytona 500.
Wednesday’s qualifying locked in the first two starting spots for Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Chase Briscoe won the pole and Austin Cindric was second.
Preece is in his first season driving for RFK Racing.
Preece was second to Briscoe by .138 of a second in the first round of qualifying, which included 45 cars. The top-10 cars in the first round advanced to the second and final round of qualifying. Preece missed being locked into a front row starting spot by the blink of an eye. Cindric was .076 of a second behind Briscoe and Preece was .086 of a second off the pole-winning time in the second round.
“I figured if we made the second round that would be great,” Preece said. “… Making that second rounds time can be tough. We had a really well prepared … [car]. It showed in qualifying. Just excited. ….The work starts now.
Preece will start second in the first of two 60-lap Duel events on Thursday at Daytona, which will set the remainder of the starting lineup for Sunday’s Daytona 500.
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He Looked Fast!! Keeping Fingers Crossed For Tomorrow Night. Go “Preece Lighting”!!!