Ryan Preece Makes Believer Out Of Owner Joe Gibbs With Xfinity Series Run At NHMS

Ryan Preece talks with members of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Series team Saturday after finishing second to Kyle Busch in the Overton’s 200 at NHMS (Photo: Fran Lawlor)

LOUDON, N.H. – Joe Gibbs started Saturday as the team owner of the entry being run by NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regular Ryan Preece in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Overton’s 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

He ended the day as one of the many new members of the Ryan Preece fan club.

Preece made his first career start for the team owner one to remember Saturday by finishing second to Kyle Busch in the Overton’s 200.

Busch’s 89th career victory in the series ended up being the secondary story out of the event, as Preece’s run garnered attention from across the spectrum of national NASCAR media.

“He came onto the scene with us and we’ve kind of seen what his past history was and everything,” Gibbs told RaceDayCT Sunday after celebrating his team’s victory with driver Denny Hamlin in the Monster Energy Cup Series Overton’s 301 at NHMS. “I appreciated the fact that he said ‘Hey look, I want to take a shot in what I think is great stuff’ and that takes a sacrifice to get that done and he did that. It was a thrill for us. I found myself pulling for him. I called him afterwards and talked to him and I said ‘We’ve got to get together.’ so I can get caught up on him and history. Hopefully it will be a good thing for him. I think opened some people’s eyes and that’s great to see young guys do that. I love that. With our Xfinity Series, that’s one of the things I love with it.”

Preece is scheduled to make one more Xfinity Series start for Joe Gibbs Racing in the July 29 event at Iowa Speedway.

After that, it’s unclear what could be next for the Berlin driver with the Joe Gibbs Racing operation.

“I think anytime somebody runs good it’s certainly a huge deal for them,” Gibbs said. “We’re always looking. Everybody in the sport is looking for young talent. I think it certainly helps him. You’re never quite sure what’s going to happen down the road.”

Comments

  1. James Scott says

    I am hoping for the best for Ryan. He ran an incredible race on Saturday and proved an awful lot. Connecticut should be proud.

  2. darealgoodfella says

    Not only did Preece impress Joe Gibbs, all other team owners saw what Preece can do in good equipment. So all teams are now watching, and soon it could become interesting.

  3. Joe tobin says

    I hope Ryan gets into the series and gets all of the modified ! We love tough competition but one less guy be easier for us ! Lol

  4. Joe tobin says

    Gets out of modified series !

  5. known Ryan since he was 10 and racing karts with my son. Great guy and tremendous family

  6. Great article on a great driver. Hoping for the best for Ryan. He deserves to be with the big guns.

  7. darealgoodfella says

    Colby is hoping Preece gets a big league ride and leaves the Tour.

  8. dareal if not for a hung throttle in qualifying at Riverhead, Coby would have won 4 straight championships. I doubt he is losing sleep worrying about Preece.

    As for Preece, after Loudon he looks like a genius for buying the Gibbs ride, but if it doesn’t turn into a ride in one of the top 3 series was it worth the money? Also, how many owners look at the 20 car and Gibbs organization like Clint Bowyer did?

    Clint Bowyer, repeatedly said that “a monkey could drive that 20 car and win.”

  9. darealgoodfella says

    Zeke, a monkey can drive the NWMT 2 car, with the right flux capacitor, and win.

    In 2013, Coby had more bad luck after Riverhead, so the Riverhead event was not the single point failure.

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