Preece at home on Magic Mile
NASCAR Monster Energy Series rookie driver Ryan Preece has discovered that respect is a two-way street on a one-way track.
Preece is 19 races into his first full season on the senior circuit and has performed ahead of schedule in the No. 47 Kroger Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for JTG Daugherty Racing.
The 28-year-old Preece ranks second behind Daniel Hemric (308) in the rookie driver’s points with 251. His successful immersion into the rough and tumble of the Monster Energy Series has been facilitated by earning the respect of the veteran drivers.
“I would say you are definitely always working on being respectful to people you are racing against and certain guys who have been doing this for a while and you have to earn their respect,” Preece said.
“I try to be as respectful as I possibly can and get that respect in return. But it is something you have to work on.”
Preece, a native of Berlin, Conn., came of age driving open wheel modified race cars on the short tracks of New England. He considers New Hampshire Motor Speedway his home course and looks forward to competing in the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 on Sunday in Loudon, N.H.
Preece made his Monster Energy Series debut in this event last year and finished 32nd driving the No. 98 Chevrolet. He will perform double duty by competing in the Whelen Modified Eastern Tour Propane and Oil 100 tomorrow and the Cup race on Sunday.
“It feels good and it feels like coming home for a New Hampshire Motor Speedway race weekend,” Preece said. “The modified is what I grew up racing and that’s really the main division here in New England.
“That’s really why I love it and I’ve been doing it for a long time now. New Hampshire is a different place. It’s like a giant dirt track and I’ve been racing on that kind of track all my life.”
Preece was awarded a career changing 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 races on his resume, having 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. He has competed in five XNS starts at NHMS for Joe Gibbs Racing and had two top-five finishes.
“It’s all be really good so far,” Preece said. “I am appreciative of the opportunity that I have been handed and I feel we are going to have a strong run at New Hampshire and that would be nice.
Preece is 26th in the points standing with one top-five finish and two in the top 10. Despite his short track background, his two best finishes have been on the tour’s super speedways. Preece kicked off the season with an eighth place showing in the Daytona 500 and posted a career high third at Talladega.
“I would say that is just how things worked out,” he said. “When I went into the season, I wouldn’t say I was super confident on the super speedways and to have strong runs there was unexpected.
“I’m a short track racer and I had New Hampshire circled on my calendar.”