Ryan Preece did not just win the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. He earned it the hard way.

Cold rain, sleet, and snow tried to steal the show on Wednesday night in Winston-Salem, but Preece refused to let the weather decide his fate. On a slick quarter mile track that looked more like an ice rink at times, the Connecticut native drove with patience and toughness to claim the biggest win of his NASCAR Cup Series career so far.

The Clash had already been delayed twice because of heavy snow, making this win feel even more meaningful. For Preece, the wait was worth it. After years of grinding and uncertainty about his future in the sport, he finally had a moment to celebrate. His emotions said it all as he climbed out of the car with tears in his eyes while fans cheered through the cold.

Preece’s road to this moment has not been easy. Just two years ago, he thought his NASCAR career might be over. When Stewart Haas Racing shut down after the 2024 season, he had to find a new opportunity. That door opened at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, and on Wednesday night, he made the most of it in the No. 60 Ford.

Starting 18th, Preece slowly worked his way through a chaotic race that featured a Clash record 17 cautions. After the halfway break and a switch to wet weather tires, he took control. He grabbed the lead on Lap 156 and never looked back, pulling away after the final restart to beat William Byron by nearly two seconds.

The win also put Preece in rare company. He became just the third driver to win the Clash before winning a points paying Cup race, joining Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin. He also made history by becoming the first driver to win the Clash from outside the first two rows since the event moved to a quarter mile format.

Behind Preece, Ryan Blaney finished third, followed by Daniel Suarez and Denny Hamlin. Kyle Larson, who led the most laps, saw his night fall apart once the weather changed and settled for 16th.

The Last Chance Qualifier delivered drama of its own. Josh Berry and Austin Cindric raced their way into the main event, with Berry winning the LCQ and Cindric grabbing the final spot after a late shove from AJ Allmendinger.

In the end, though, the night belonged to Ryan Preece. On one of the coldest and toughest nights NASCAR has seen in years, he proved that persistence still matters. Sometimes, the long road really does lead to a moment worth waiting for.