STAFFORD – Standing on the grid before the season opening Camping World SRX Series event Thursday at Stafford Speedway, 33-year old Stewart-Haas Racing NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece lamented sneaking into pits at the historic half-mile facility when he was a teanager growing up in Berlin.
After he was old enough to get into the pits, Preece became a star at the track. Next Thursday he’ll be on track competing as part of a group of superstars.
It was announced Thursday that because of the state of emergency in Vermont, the SRX Series’ second event of the season would be moved from Thunder Road International Speedway in Barre, Vt to Stafford Speedway.
Also announced was the addition of Preece, a former track regular to the lineup for the July 20 event at Stafford.
“From where I was then to where I am now as a race car driver, and where I started, where it used to be just kind of sneaking into the Stafford pits, and then when I was first able to get in when I was 16 legally, and now where we are here, I’ve got a lot of memories here,” Preece said. “It’s a place that’s near and dear to my heart. … When [the SRX Series] called and this opportunity came up, I said ‘I’ve got to do it.’”
Preece will be making his first career SRX Series start. For years Preece competed side-by-side at Stafford and on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with Doug Coby, who won the inaugural SRX Series event at Stafford on June 12, 2021. The pair have long had a friendly biting rivalry on social media that will certainly be fired up over the next week. After Coby won the first series event, he quite famously fell off the car trying to celebrate.
“Doug won this thing man, he got it done,” Preece said. But hopefully if I do I’ll just make sure I don’t fall off the door.”
Preece sits 11th on Stafford’s all-time win list with 37-career feature victories at the track. That win list includes back-to-back victories in the track’s illustrious NAPA Spring Sizzler in 2017 and 2018.
Having Preece in the field will mark an unprecedented move for the SRX Series in running a 13-car field instead of the typical 12-car field the division has run since its first event. The entire lineup originally scheduled for Thunder Road will run at Stafford.
“There have been a lot of moving parts over the last few days, and some unprecedented things have happened,” SRX Series CEO Don Hawk said. “One of the most exciting things in all of that is the addition of Ryan Preece to the SRX field at Stafford on July 20th. I’m a Modified guy. I know what he can do in one of those, and in a NASCAR Cup car. He is a perfect fit for us, and the fans at Stafford will hopefully come back to root on one of their own racers.”
In addition to Preece, the field at Stafford on July 20 will also include SRX full-time drivers Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski, Ken Schrader, Marco Andretti, Hallie Deegan, Bobby Labonte and Paul Tracy and part-time drivers Daniel Suarez, Greg Biffle, Kenny Wallace and Tony Kanaan.
Great to see Ryan joining the SRX next week. Would be even better to see a track regular added as well. In TV description it said international stars joined by a local driver. Coby was there at the track helping some of the drivers out learning the track, and was the inaugural winner. Matt Hirshman earned a spot last year as the Sizzler winner, more of a regional driver. What happened? Why no local driver? There is definitely some great drivers who race at Stafford, and I was waiting to see who last night. Maybe Rocco should have been included as winner of the SK race along with his many championships in Connecticut, as well as his National Championship, where he beat racers who race allot more races that year.will SRX not include a local through the series, or was it just at Stafford?
Be interesting to see how this one sells in the stands, late notice, 2 in a row. Probably smart adding preece to help gate. Anyone know What happens if Thursday rains out?
Rob P, well said! I am a big Ryan Preece fan going back to his weekly racing days. I worked for Dave Lind (he sold American Racer/ Goodyear tires for many years) so I got to know many local/ regional drivers. I think it makes a lot of sense to add a track “favorite”, either by a fan/ competitor vote or winning a special event(s). Better yet take the winner of several big track events (Sizzler, Fall Final, etc) they then “qualify” to be voted on by the fans, fellow track competitors, and maybe local media. That winner gets to be the “local favorite” for that weeks SRX event, followed by alternate drivers based on where they finished in the above voting. That gives everyone a little more motivation to win, the fans feel included, and the track along with SRX gets to promote the local “ringer”. Rocco would be fun to watch compete and he has a personality that fits the SRX series and his resume speaks for itself. Either way Coby, Preece, and whoever else runs these events are good drivers to help put butts in the stands and we can hopefully enjoy a great night of racing. Stay safe everyone!
Since there will be 13 cars can we some how recognize Teddy Christopher. Maybe have his name on Ryans car. I’m sure Ryan wouldn’t mind.
Good idea to add a local driver every week in SRX series
Ryan will represent Stafford well being a former competitor, and having his experience in full bodied cars. Coby was excellent, which I attribute to his experience in the late model and pro stocks with championships in both. Stafford has weekly racers who could represent them well. Tom Fearn, Adam Gray and Woody all have championships in the late models, Tom is also a pro stock champ. Adam and Woody also have experience in ACT style cars. I don’t think the SRX representative need be a series driver, as there is plenty of talent in the weekly divisions. Or like I said Coby, who is a former weekly driver.