Ryan Preece's Apollo 60 is Ready for Liftoff at the Snowball Derby

Ryan Preece, the man who seems to have a magnetic attraction to the skies above Daytona, is once again embracing his reputation for going airborne. This time, however, he’s the one in control of the rocket ship.

Preece just dropped the first look at his “Apollo 60” Super Late Model, and let’s just say it looks ready to blast off at this year’s Snowball Derby. Because if you can’t beat the “going airborne” allegations, you might as well lean into them with a space-themed race car, right?

Preece is bringing some serious style to Pensacola’s Five Flags Speedway, and he’s not coming alone. The No. 60 Ford is decked out with sponsorship from RaceChoice.com and, in a delightfully absurd twist, Oscar Mayer.

That’s right, the iconic Weinermobile is plastered on the side of this high-speed machine. It’s a bizarrely perfect pairing of raw horsepower and processed meat that somehow just works.

1. What’s the Big Deal with the Snowball Derby?

Fresh off his first full season with RFK Racing in the Cup Series, Preece is clearly eager to get back to his short-track roots. He posted a video of the new ride on X (formerly Twitter), and the excitement is palpable. “Our rocket ship is ready for the derby,” he wrote. “Apollo 60 is looking out of this world.” I see what you did there, Ryan. For the uninitiated, the Snowball Derby isn’t just another local race. This is the Super Bowl of late model racing, a brutal, high-stakes event that attracts the best short-track talent from across the country. Making the field is a feat in itself; winning it solidifies your name in grassroots racing history. Preece isn’t the only big-name driver making the pilgrimage to Florida. He’ll be rubbing fenders with a who’s who of NASCAR talent, including Noah Gragson, Erik Jones, Ty Majeski, and the ever-present two-time Cup champion, Kyle Busch. For these guys, the Snowball Derby is more than just an offseason hobby—it’s a bucket list item, a chance to prove their mettle on one of the most demanding stages in motorsport. Winning this race would be a massive boost for Preece’s confidence as he heads into the 2026 Cup Series season.

2. Ryan Preece: NASCAR’s Unofficial Stuntman

Let’s be honest, you can’t talk about Ryan Preece without mentioning his wild rides at Daytona. The guy has had some of the most terrifying, physics-defying crashes we’ve seen in recent years. Back in February, during his Daytona 500 debut with RFK, he found himself on the receiving end of a nudge from Christopher Bell that sent his Mustang into a terrifying series of flips before landing on its roof. It was a heart-stopping moment that had everyone holding their breath. After emerging from the infield care center (thankfully in one piece), Preece offered a chillingly calm perspective. “When the car took off like that, it got real quiet. All I thought about was my daughter,” he said. It was a stark reminder of the very real dangers these drivers face every time they strap in. Yet, in true racer fashion, he chalked it up to “just superspeedway racing.” It takes a special kind of person to walk away from a wreck like that and immediately start thinking about the next race.

3. Preece’s Journey to the Cup Series

Preece’s journey to the Cup Series has been the definition of a grind. He’s a blue-collar racer who clawed his way up from the Modified Tour, taking whatever opportunities he could get, often with underfunded teams. His win in a Truck Series start was a flash of brilliance, but he’s had to fight for every inch. Now, at RFK Racing, he seems to have found a home that fits his no-nonsense, hardworking ethos. A win at the Snowball Derby would be the perfect storybook ending to a rollercoaster year. However, nothing is guaranteed for now, and Preece knows it better than anyone. Short-track racing doesn’t reward racers who give it their full go, but those who play it smart and execute well. The Snowball Derby is going to be brutal, with razor-thin margins deciding the fate of Preece and his opponents. Hence, Preece has a wonderful chance to show that even at the twilight of his career, he belongs at the table alongside the big NASCAR boys.

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