(Press release from Stewart-Haas Racing)
Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) has hired Ryan Preece as its reserve driver for the 2022 NASCAR season.
The 31-year-old racer from Berlin, Connecticut, will perform simulator work while running a mix of races across each of NASCAR’s top-three touring series – Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck. Preece will be a Ford Performance driver in each series, and he will be the default driver if any of SHR’s fulltime drivers are unable to compete due to COVID-19 or any other unforeseen circumstance.
“Ryan is a versatile wheelman with a racer’s mentality who fits extremely well within our culture at Stewart-Haas Racing,” said Greg Zipadelli, vice president of competition, SHR. “Between the amount of testing and development work we’re doing with the NextGen car this year, his added insights and time in the simulator will make us better by allowing us to learn faster.
“Plus, we’re still dealing with COVID. As much as we all want it to be over, it’s not. We needed a more robust plan in the event COVID sidelines one of our drivers. We have that now with Ryan.”
Preece will run a total of 12 races – two in Cup, three in Xfinity and seven in Truck. His Cup and Xfinity Series races will be in coordination with SHR and its technical alliance partners. His Truck Series starts will come with David Gilliland Racing.
“This is a unique setup, but I feel like it provides me with the best opportunity to win races and contribute to a championship-caliber team while expanding my racing experience,” said Preece, who spent the last three seasons (2019-2021) competing fulltime in Cup. “I’m a racer, and Stewart-Haas Racing is a team built by racers. They measure success by wins. Whether I’m in the simulator, in one of their cars, or in a Ford Mustang or Ford F-150 for another team, I’m here to help SHR and Ford win.”
Preece’s two Cup Series races will be May 1 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway and May 29 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. His three Xfinity Series races will be April 2 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, May 28 at Charlotte and June 25 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. His seven Truck Series races will be March 4 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, March 19 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, May 6 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, May 20 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, June 24 at Nashville, July 23 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and Sept. 9 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.
Preece made two Truck Series starts last year, winning in his series debut June 18 at Nashville. He is a two-time Xfinity Series victor, winning in July 2017 at Iowa Speedway in Newton and April 2018 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
Preece is especially known for his exploits on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. He won the series championship in 2013 and has amassed 25 victories, three of which came last year – July 17 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, Aug. 6 at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway and Sept. 10 at Richmond.
And make sure Stewart-Haas Racing sponsors his Modified racing, hoping that Preece will be able to get in a few Modified races… especially New Hampshire.
What do the best employers always say when they see a person with a ton of talent and willing to work hard? Lets see if we can create a position for that young man is what and they did.
Just a suggestion from the peanut gallery Mr. Preece. Keep your vaccinations up to date and get any booster you’re qualified for. Next summer the pandemic is supposed to be at a very low idle but you never know. A driver gets diagnosed with but bug and BOOM! You’re in with a chance to win.
How is this not a promotion. SHR is a premier team with every resource a driver could possibly want and had the third best finish among CUP teams in 2021 ahead of Penske. No side trips to the modifieds or Super Late Models. Be the indispensable employee willing to do whatever it takes for the team. Then shine when you get those limited but top tier rides.
Full time pay with benefits with upward mobility and stability at the same time.
Preece was thrown out into the cold at the end of the season, did a backward flip with his Super Late Model at the Snowball Derby and stuck the landing a month before Daytona.
This fan couldn’t be happier.
I wish at least one of those 12 races was scheduled at Loudon so his fanbase could see him race.
Great news for Ryan. This deal looks like it will allow him to race allot in the modified, as well as putting him in top tier equipment for those 12 races. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him knock off a couple of wins over those 12 races.