Ryan Preece keeps stacking together solid finishes with his new team, RFK Racing.

After scoring his first top-five finish with the team two races ago at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it was the start of positive momentum.

A ninth-place effort at Homestead-Miami Speedway was a solidification that the No. 60 team was on the right track.

However, Sundays NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway may have proven to be the inkling that the team is ready to contend.

Despite starting 21st on the grid around the paperclip-shaped track, Preece remained patient throughout the 400-lap race.

Preece managed to rally up to seventh by the end of Stage One, however, spent the majority of the second stage mired back in the 20s.

A mirage of caution flags transpired throughout the final stint, which allowed Preece to claw his way back to the top 10 by races end.

I didnt expect that one, Preece said. Honestly, it all started with me messing up in qualifying and putting us back there. Ultimately, we got some great stage points and some great calls and great adjustments on the box and we got this Fastenal Ford Mustang where it needed to be.

Weve got some work to do to be able to drive through like some other cars do, but I think weve got some good ideas and obviously a little luck went our way today. Im proud of everybody on this Fastenal Ford Mustang and everybody at RFK. Weve just got to keep working and keep grinding.

That grind for the No. 60 team has proven to be key in its ascension as strength has become apparent in various aspects.

One of those was the 75-lap final stint of the race going caution-free, which can show signs of strengths and weaknesses in a race car. It certainly didnt sway Preece and the No. 60 Ford as they remained firmly in the top 10, finishing seventh by races end.

Honestly, they made the right adjustment when it mattered, Preece said. There are some guys that hit it early and then they fell off. For us, we were at our best there at the end, so Im just proud of everybody. Im happy. Were getting on a roll.

At first, this is a place I wanted to take advantage of for points because I felt like Martinsville is in my wheelhouse, so Im happy we did. I hate talking about points, but every bit matters.