Preece in high gear
Rookie driver takes run at Daytona 500
Rookie NASCAR driver Ryan Preece is a member of the “new school generation” in auto racing.
The same goes for Preece’s crew chief Tristan Smith, the trackside manager of the No. 47 Kroger Camaro ZL1 for JTG Daugherty Racing.
Preece and Smith will collaborate for the first time in Sunday’s season opener, the 61st Daytona 500.
“In racing there is a new school generation willing to try anything,” said Preece, a native of Berlin, Conn. “I haven’t raced with (Smith) calling the race, but I feel very optimistic about it because he is easy to work with.
“I’m very optimistic about this year because I’m a racer and a different breed when it comes to new things. What I like about this team is when the wheels start turning, they start working. I believe in racing that work ethic is everything.”
Preece was awarded a career-altering opportunity last September when veteran driver A.J. Allmendinger parted ways with JTG despite having two years remaining on his contract.
Preece had only five previous Monster Energy Cup Series races on his resume and they came in 2015. He built his driver’s portfolio on the Whelen Modified Tour and the Xfinity Cup Series. Preece competed in 55 Xfinity races that included two wins — Iowa in 2017 and Bristol in 2018 — with 11 top five finishes, 15 in the top 10 with one pole.
“They were ready to make a change right around September and I was lucky enough to have won Bristol and I think that got the wheels moving when they were ready to make a change,” Preece said. “They invited me to come over and check things out and it just felt like the right place and the right time.
“I believe in fate and this opportunity jumped at me. I feel we can make this team into a winning team someday. It’s going to take a lot of hard work but I like working hard.”
In his three Xfinity Cup races on the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway tri-oval, two blown engines and a flat tire kept Preece from crossing the finish line.
From JGR to JTG
Preece enjoyed his finest NASCAR moments last season for Joe Gibbs Racing, one of the elite teams in motor sports.
Preece competed in nine Xfinity races and finished with the win at Bristol along with four top five finishes and six in the top 10. An ambitious young driver like Preece could use those results to advance his career in most organizations.
But with drivers like Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. and 2017 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Erik Jones at the top of the JGR food chain, Preece’s upward mobility was limited. He knew moving to JTG was in his best interest.
“I learned basically what you need in a team and how to make everything work while at JGR and Joe has done a great job at building his team,” said Preece.
“Working together and obviously having well-built race cars was a huge part of their deal. I also learned how to work with people at this level to where I can maximize what I now have at JTG.”
Magic Mile home
Berlin is a 10-minute drive from Middletown, Conn., the hometown of reigning Monster Energy Cup champion Joey Logano.
Logano and Preece share New England racing roots but were on different career tracks. Logano went straight to the top and became the youngest driver (19) to win a Monster Energy Cup race. Logano took his first checkered flag in 2009, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.
Like Logano, Preece considers the Magic Mile his home course and is excited to return for Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 on July 21. Preece made his bones at NHMS competing in Whelen Modified tour events.
“New Hampshire is a special place to me as that really is my home track when it comes to NASCAR,” Preece said. “It’s an opportunity to come home and since 2007 I’ve been racing there.
“To come back 12 years later like this will be something special.”