RICHMOND, Va. -- It doesn't matter that all three RFK Racing drivers are battling for the same playoff spots over the final two weeks of the regular season; they aren't keeping any secrets from each other.
If the drivers or their respective crew chiefs see something that could help the organization, they will voice it during the weekly competition meetings.
"It's been a big strength at RFK is being able to have that open book across all of our teams to see how well our group works together and realizing that while we are competitors, we realize that what's good for one of us is ultimately good for all of us," Chris Buescher said Friday at Richmond Raceway.
"And when you're racing teammates for that spot in, it can create moments where somebody's not gonna get the best end of it, but it's still an open book, right? I think that's still this policy. And we're gonna be able to race each other hard and with a lot of respect all the way down to the wire."
It would be easy for Preece, Buescher, or Brad Keselowski to keep secrets from each other, especially with how the season has progressed. All three drivers set out with the goal of winning their way into the playoffs, but they watched as other drivers took up spots.
Now that they are set to compete at Richmond, they are in a difficult position. Three spots remain in the playoff field, but one will most likely go to Tyler Reddick as he sits 117 points above the cutline. This leaves only two spots on points or via a win.
Buescher currently holds one spot on points, but Preece is 34 points back. Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman holds the other spot on points, but he could lose it if two new drivers win at Richmond and Daytona.
Meanwhile, RFK Racing driver/co-owner Brad Keselowski is in a must-win situation.
With the three RFK Racing drivers battling for the same two playoff spots, it would be easy enough for them to talk about great communication and then keep some secrets.
This has not been the case, as Preece showed after competing in a different series on Thursday night. These drivers continue to be "open books" with each other as the pressure increases.
"I was talking about the blacktop here today in Turns 1 and 2," Preece said at Richmond. "I don't think a lot of us really knew about it, and I didn't even know about it until I went out in modified practice yesterday and noticed it, so I just communicated some of the thoughts I had on that.
"Scott (Graves), Jeremy (Bullins), Derrick (Finley), they work really well together just like all of us drivers do. So I think the environment that we have at RFK right now is a really good one and I don't hide anything from them, they don't hide anything from me and that's what's nice about being there."