Ryan Preece gambles on option tires, leads laps at Phoenix

AVONDALE, Ariz. — In the closing laps of the Shriner’s Children 500 Sunday, Ryan Preece found himself clicking off laps as the leader, utilizing a second set of Goodyear option tires to led 34 laps at Phoenix before a late-race caution erased a 1.6-second lead and forced the RFK Racing driver to pit for fresh tires.

Goodyear provided two different tires for NASCAR Cup Series teams at Phoenix. The option tire, identifiable with red Goodyear lettering along the sidewall, increases grip while wearing down faster than the regular tire.

“I wish that caution didn’t come out. Even if we didn’t win that race, I felt like we had such a good gap, and the tires were staying under me,” Preece said.

Preece became the first driver to utilize the first set of option tires, restarting 33rd on lap 15 after a caution period. Preece climbed to third at the end of Stage 1, collecting eight stage points.

Preece utilized his second option set in Stage 3, ultimately leading laps 236 to 269 prior to a caution for Bubba Wallace’s crash. Preece had to pit for fresh tires and restarted ninth after losing spots in pit road.

The RFK Racing driver faded to finish 15th, yet, his highest finish of the 2024 season thus far.

Preece led the most laps in a NASCAR Cup Series race since leading 135 laps at Martinsville in April 2023.

In 2024, Preece led two laps the entire season. In 2025, Preece has led 43 laps, leading in three of the first four races of the year.

Preece is 20 points behind the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs cutline leaving Phoenix with 22 races left in the regular season.

Preece has never won a NASCAR Cup Series race and has the second-most laps led among active drivers who have yet to win in the series with 234. Ty Gibbs has the most among active drivers with 531 laps led. Mike Skinner holds the record for most laps led without a win at 1,029.