TC Daily Pit Stop: Ryan Preece Scores Emotional Win in Chaotic Clash; Denny Hamlin Reveals He Re-Tore Shoulder in Offseason
TC Daily Pit Stop: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Ryan Preece Grinds His Way to Win in Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray
Ryan Preece’s long journey to find victory lane in the NASCAR Cup Series was finally completed on Wednesday night in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. While not an official points-paying race, Preece still took a decisive win to kick off the 2026 season, and it was one that certainly struck an emotional chord for the driver.
“I don’t even know what to say, to be honest with you, it’s been a fucking long road,” said Preece. “You know, it’s the Clash, but man, it’s been years and years of grinding.”
“Two years ago, I didn’t think I was going to have a job, I thought I was going back to Connecticut, and I’m just super, super emotional,” Preece said while in tears in Victory Lane.
Preece executed expertly on restarts late in the race, which was slowed by caution 17 times, and cruised to the win by more than 1.7 seconds over William Byron.
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RACE RESULTS
Denny Hamlin Racing with Re-Aggravated Shoulder Injury in 2026
To say it was an emotional and tumultuous offseason for Denny Hamlin would be an understatement. After enduring a legal battle against NASCAR, and mourning the death of his father, Dennis, Hamlin revealed in a media availability on Wednesday that he will race through a shoulder injury in 2026.
Hamlin says he re-tore his right shoulder, which was medically repaired heading into the 2024 season, while combing through the rubble of the housefire that claimed the life of his father in the offseason.
“Kind of right after the season, it was just nagging me a little bit,” Hamlin said of his shoulder. “Took a little fall at my mom’s house, going through all the rubble and stuff, and just didn’t feel right.”
Hamlin will have surgery following the 2026 season.
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Charlotte Motor Speedway Officially Axes ROVAL for 2026 NASCAR Season
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Modo Casino Expands Relationship with Spire Motorsports for 2026
Dario Franchitti Tackling Truck Race at St. Petersburg with TRICON Garage
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