As reported by RaceDayCT on Jan. 25, Ryan Preece will reunite with Boehler Racing Enterprises and Ole Blue for two major upcoming events.
Boehler Racing Enterprises owner Michael Boehler confirmed to RaceDayCT Tuesday that Preece will race for the team in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season opening event at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway on Feb. 12 and will also team up with the organization for the 50th NAPA Spring Sizzler at Stafford Speedway on April 23-24.
“Obviously everybody knows each other very well,” Boehler told RaceDayCT. “It seems like a really good fit. Obviously his new deal and national presence makes him super busy so just to grab the two races with him is great. The guys are super pumped. Ryan has a couple marketing partners and BRE has a few and we’re able to all put in the time and effort and make it all work and head to New Smryna and see what happens.”
Preece drove for Boehler Racing Enterprises from 2008 to 2010 on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Preece got the first of his 25 career Whelen Modified Tour victories driving Ole Blue at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Sept. 20, 2008. Preece, the 2013 Whelen Modified Tour champion, had three wins over 43 starts with Boehler Racing Enterprises over three seasons. His third win with the team came at Stafford in August 2009. He finished second in the series standings for the team in 2009 and sixth in 2010.
Preece won the Spring Sizzler in 2017 and 2018.
Boehler expects the seat in Ole Blue to be filled for numerous more races in 2022 with other drivers.
“We are looking at some other options,” Boehler said. “Hopefully in the next couple weeks we can wrap everything up and get things finalized and let everybody know what the plans are for the entire season.”
It would be awesome if Preece could get’Ole Blue’ back to victory lane at the 50th Sizzler, then go on to represent New England for the SRX race.
Well if that doesn’t bring out New England Mod fans nothing will ! I’m pretty psyched to see ole blue be a legit threat again for sure. Wonder if Donny Lia is a potential driver for Boehler still?
Jussayin,
More info on that at the RaceDayCT Insider page.
I’ll be at New Smyrna. Go Preece Lightning! I’m also pulling for my local hero Showtime.
It really wasn’t that long ago one of our favorite driver had zero lined up for CUP and zero lined up for modified visits. In fact off a successful Snowball Derby effort Preece was drooling all over Super Late Models and didn’t seem fired up at all for any of the modified action coming in 2022. Schwew…..he’s back.
Can we talk Sizzler for a moment and who may win. Not just who your favorite is forget that. Take all your knowledge of modifieds, forget bias and favoritism and objectively say who has a legitimate chance to win the race.
My list starts with some of the former Stafford open winners including Preece, Rocco, Williiiams, Dowling, Pitkat and Christopher.
Add to them Coby and the Cassella 25.
Drivers not entered yet that could be given the new incentive would include the Massa 51, Hirschman, Silk and McKennedy.
Then throw in other cars that may not be favorites going in but perfectly capable of winning that would include Rufrano, Goodale, Emerling, Pasteryak and I’m going to throw in Buddy Cherette. That’s a newer LFR chassis and newer power and the 300 finish was no fluke.
By my count I have 13 cars with a realistic chance of winning the race that are entered and 17 if you include the must have cars yet to file an entry. I’m not including Blewett but 18 if you think he’ll have the car to win after such a long Stafford absence.
Is that too wide open? I don’t think so.
I get Hirschman not showing up since Stafford has not been a priority for him in recent history. I don’t get a Sizzler without Silk, McKennedy and Bonsignor and especially Silk.