Who is the driving force behind Ryan Preece’s comeback, and will his engineering prowess help RFK Racing reach its greatest potential? “I am incredibly excited to lead the No. 60 team,” said Derrick Finley. Few spectators were familiar with Derrick Finley when he arrived in the RFK Racing pit box, but insiders around the NASCAR garage noticed. It was the same strategist who had built automobiles with clinical precision and led teams through years of competition. His comeback to the Cup Series and his alignment with Ryan Preece, a driver keen to reinvent his career, promised an exciting new alliance.

Preece’s move to RFK Racing was supposed to be a game-changer, but the team’s resolve was put to the test by early difficulties. But in April 2025, a turning point occurred at Martinsville Speedway. This type of turnaround is impossible without an experienced hand like Finley leading the setup. Execution, not luck, was the key to that Martinsville surge. Finley, who subtly established himself as the strategic cornerstone of the Preece’s Cup campaign, was responsible for that implementation. Finley’s deliberate presence on the box might mean the difference between a breakout season and lingering potential in a sport where camaraderie frequently matters just as much as horsepower.

This is the tale of Derrick Finley, the seasoned crew chief who not only built faster cars but also paved the way for a significant turning point in the career of one of NASCAR’s most driven drivers. A guy who, despite his sometimes subtle impact, might hold the secret to turning RFK Racing’s No. 41 from a long shot into a serious contender.

Who is Derrick Finley?

Derrick Finley may not be the loudest voice in the NASCAR garage, but many teams have entrusted him with some of the sport’s most critical decisions. Having worked in the sport for more than 20 years, Finley has quietly established himself as a shrewd engineer, a calm strategist, and a respected leader who can guide both seasoned drivers and new initiatives.

With a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico, Finley’s aptitude for accuracy and problem-solving served as the cornerstone of a career that included positions as competition leader, technical director, and crew chief. He has had executive roles at Front Row Motorsports, Petty Enterprises, and Michael Waltrip Racing; each experience has shaped him into a hybrid thinker who is aware of the intricacies of setup sheets as well as the pulsing heart of race-day operations.

He helped improve aerodynamic packages and performance measures while serving as Technical Director at Michael Waltrip Racing during one of the team’s most competitive periods. During his tenure at Front Row Motorsports, he stabilized a smaller business where technical consistency and cost-effectiveness were crucial. He also contributed to a pioneering effort at Petty Enterprises to update their Cup Series program.

Through its Stage 60 effort, a part-time experimental Cup entry that included road-course ringers like Joey Hand, international talents like Cam Waters, and veterans like David Ragan, Finley joined RFK Racing in 2022. Despite being low on the stat sheet, the position allowed Finley to integrate more into RFK’s engineering ethos, preparing him for a bigger leap. Ryan Preece was named to pilot the resurrected No. 60 Ford Mustang when RFK Racing announced a full-time expansion to three Cup Series cars in January 2025. Finley was immediately chosen by Brad Keselowski and the RFK leadership to head the new squad.

Preece echoed that trust by saying, “Derrick will be a big help in getting the team integrated in the RFK processes. His experience with the procedures the organization has in place will help lay the foundation for the No. 60 car.”

Derrick Finley is not only managing a car, but he’s creating a new identity for RFK’s expansion effort. And for a team still finding its place in the fiercely competitive Cup landscape, he might be the architect they needed. Finley’s presence is subtly improving Preece’s performance, from subtle adjustments to high-pressure calls late in races.

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From wrench-turner to RFK Racing’s Crew Chief, Derrick Finley’s rise in NASCAR

Derrick Finley was elbow deep in suspension settings long before he was calling race-winning modifications from the top of the RFK Racing pit box. He was pursuing speed the old-fashioned way, one wrench turn at a time. Although his path through NASCAR has been unconventional, it has also helped mold him into one of the sport’s most adaptable thinkers. With a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico, Finley established a profession based on technical proficiency, accuracy, and flexibility. He had firsthand experience turning underperforming vehicles into real threats during his early years as lead engineer at Michael Waltrip Racing, which included a time serving as Dale Jarrett’s temporary crew chief.

With positions as Competition Director at Front Row Motorsports and Petty Enterprises, Finley’s resume grew. He gained a reputation as a hybrid thinker, someone who was equally at ease hearing driver feedback as he was deciphering wind tunnel data, whether he was directing decisions on race day or creating long-term growth plans. But a fresh chapter began with the switch to RFK Racing. Through the team’s Stage 60 initiative, a part-time experimental program intended to test fresh driver pairings and technological advancements, he joined in 2022. Throughout the 2024 season, Finley subtly oversaw work on vehicles driven by Joey Hand, Cam Waters, and David Ragan—experiences that set the stage for something more significant.

Ryan Preece will drive the No. 60 Ford Mustang, RFK’s daring decision to field a third full-time Cup car, starting in January 2025. The choice to appoint Finley as the operation’s crew chief wasn’t merely calculated; it was earned. “Derrick will be a big help in getting the team integrated with the RFK processes. His experience with the procedures the organization has in place will help lay the foundation for the No. 60 car.” Preece said. The solidity of the foundation is evident. Finley signifies a more profound change in RFK’s approach to race team construction, from the garage floor to the finish line, than merely a new moniker on the pit box. It is the result of a career based on adaptability, perseverance, and the conviction that excellence in racing is gained in the little things.

Will Ryan Preece be able to end his winless drought with Crew Chief Derrick Finley in the 2025 Cup Series season?

Ryan Preece views the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season as a high-stakes chance to change the course of history rather than just another chapter. Preece is currently in the most secure and promising position of his Cup career after spending the majority of it alternating between spot starts and poorly supported rides: a full-time seat with RFK Racing with seasoned strategist Derrick Finley at the top of the box. Furthermore, the question is more pertinent than ever after a run of top-10 finishes, including a tenacious recovery to seventh place at Martinsville: Can this combination give Preece his elusive first Cup Series victory?

With 26 wins in the same series and the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship, Ryan Preece has a strong racing experience. He raced at well-known venues, including Stafford Motor Speedway and Riverhead Raceway, in his early years. In April 2025, Martinsville was a sign that things were beginning to come together. At the end of Stage Two, Preece was stuck outside the top 20 after struggling early with a tight-handling vehicle. Then, the pivotal moment arrived.

After struggling with a tight-handling car and finishing outside the top 20 by the end of Stage Two, Preece’s luck changed in the final stretch when Finley made a series of calculated adjustments that changed the car’s behavior on the track. Preece charged forward and eventually clawed his way to seventh place, his third consecutive top 10. “Whatever we did overnight completely killed it. They made the right adjustment when it mattered,” Preece admitted post-race.

About Derrick Finley, who is renowned for his technical expertise and strategic acumen, Finley planned the type of mid-race change that seasoned crew chiefs take great satisfaction in. A clue that RFK’s third car might not be playing catch-up for long, Preece stormed forward in the last stage, slicing through the field for his third consecutive top-10 finish. “I didn’t expect that one. We’ve got some work to do to be able to drive through like some other cars do, but I think we’ve got some good ideas and a little luck went our way today,” Preece said.

That combination of hope and humility says a lot. Preece is aware that he still needs to perform on par with NASCAR’s best drivers, but for the first time, he has a crew chief who can match his ambition with skill. Although Finley isn’t a well-known headliner, Preece has long required a leader who is meticulous and has experience in the field. The chemistry is genuine, which is more significant. Preece’s unadulterated passion is counterbalanced by Finley’s subtle accuracy. Additionally, this pair might pose a real threat in a Cup Series where racecraft takes precedence over pure horsepower and mechanical grip and tire conservation have made a comeback, particularly on short tracks and flatter ovals.

“We’re thrilled to have Derrick lead the No. 60 team. His experience and technical knowledge will play a crucial role in the initial development and growth of this program,” Brad Keselowski said. With Finley at the top of the pit box this year, Preece, a Connecticut native, will try to build on his four top-five finishes and 16 top-10s in 187 career NASCAR Cup Series starts. Additionally, RFK Racing is reportedly going to lease a charter from Rick Ware Racing to guarantee the No. 60 car’s full-time entry in the 2025 season. RFK Racing was founded in 1988 by Jack Roush and has since grown to become a NASCAR mainstay with a legacy of eight championships and more than 300 victories.

It takes more than just speed to break a winless streak in NASCAR’s premier series. It all comes down to timing, cooperation, and long-term planning. Ryan Preece might finally have all three for the first time in his career.