Driven Nature Of Ryan Preece On Whelen Modified Tour Seen Clearly After Season Opener At Thompson

THOMPSON – It was a smile and a laugh that might have taken even the most expert of social personality examiners months to translate.

Ryan Preece

Ryan Preece looked the part of happy camper when he arrived in the press box at Thompson International Speedway Sunday after a third place finish in the Whelen Modified Tour season opening Icebreaker 150, but was he really?

Asked if he had fun Preece laughed a laugh that seemed equal parts sarcasm and evil genius. What was clear was that the 2012 series runner-up was not going to offer up any sort of staid scripted verses about a good start to the season or having a good points day.

Preece made it clear nothing short of a win Sunday would have left him satisfied.

“This one hurts the most because of how good of car we had,” Preece said.

Preece and eventual race winner Mike Stefanik came out of the pits together with new tires on lap 109 of the event, but it was Stefanik who was quicker to find the line to the front through the late race traffic jams.

But it was Preece putting on the show over the final five laps and he tried to mount an assault on Stefanik that never materialized. Preece got by Ron Silk for third in the late moments but was left battling Rowan Pennink for second place when the checkered flag was waving.

It left the 22-year from Berlin desperately wanting a chance for a do-over.

“I can’t wait to come back here” Preece said. “That was the best car I’ve had here. That was a race car. It wasn’t a fast car, it was a race car.”

Preece had two victories on the way to a second place finish in the standings in 2012. He ended the season 11 points behind champion Doug Coby. Preece, in his seventh season on the Whelen Modified Tour, also finished as the series runner-up in 2009.

He believes tire management and being a driver that can handle racing on used up rubber will be keys this season for anyone chasing a title in the series.

“I think it’s going to be a tire management race this year,” Preece said. “It’s not beat your tires and you’re going to stay up front because they’re never going to go away. These Hoosier are definitely working. They seem to go away after about 30 laps and then it’s up to the driver to search. The car’s not going to be perfect all the time.”