When it comes to the Camping World Truck Series for Ryan Preece, Nashville Superspeedway is like the sweetest song for the Berlin native.
Preece, a part-timer with the Camping World Truck Series this season, used a late restart to grab the lead and go on to win the Rackley Roofing 200 Friday at Nashville Superspeedway.
It was the second consecutive year that Preece, a former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, has won the event at Nashville.
“We got a second guitar—I may have to start a band!” Preece exulted after climbing from his truck. “These guys [in the shop] work their tails off, and I know what it takes to win races. They give me phenomenal race cars. I’m just proud to be the one holding the steering wheel.”
It was the second Truck Series victory in eight career starts in the division for Preece, who is also running part-time this year with the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series.
Zane Smith was second and Carson Hocevar third.
The victory was the second straight for David Gilliland Racing. Todd Gilliland won last week’s Truck Series dirt race at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway.
Preece got by Christian Eckes on the race’s final restart, with nine laps remaining.
Smith was all over Preece on the white flag lap, but got deep into a corner late and slid up the track. It allowed Preece to get a gap on his pursuers.
“It was a little closer than I wanted it to be,” Preece said. “Just old tires, the heat cycles. They were chattering. I had clean air, and I put as much dirty air on [Smith] as possible. I wasn’t going to give it up.”
Preece also earned a $50,000 bonus for the win as part of the Triple Truck Challenge.
It makes me so sad to see Preece back in Connecticut coming in third place like in the open at Thompson. He tries but is incapable of hiding his disappointment any time he’s not winning.
This is the Ryan I like to see. Winning anything, big smile, positivity in his social media response and all is right with the world.
Everyone wants to be at Stafford next week for two huge nights of racing and Preece will be there. I’d like to see him win the open to see that big smile.