Digging Deep With Denise: Catching Up With Ryan Preece

“Digging Deep With Denise” is a semi-regular question and answer feature with local racers and racing personalities produced by RaceDayCT’s Denise DuPont

In 2025, Ryan Preece has a full-time ride in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 60 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RFK Racing. The 34-year-old has been racing for most of his life, just living his dream. Catching up with him during Speedweeks in Florida we had an opportunity to ask him a few questions. 

At RFK Racing the media has a good team vibe. Do you feel that that’s made a difference in opportunities for your current race team?

Preece: “I think they’re social. I mean, SHR was a social team and did a good job. But at RFK, they just have a different style. And so far, I like how they are with their partners and a lot of the sponsors. I guess, they just have a different style. And so far, I definitely I like it and I like their culture.”

Do you think it might have made make a difference in opportunities for the sponsor base?

Preece: “Well, to be honest with you, from what I understand, I think there’s only a handful of races that are unsponsored right now between all the cars. So, from what I understand with this organization, they are already sponsored for most races and they’re still looking to fill in more slots. I think there’s probably, seven or eight races total out of the 100 or so that may have availability.

“But It’s obvious that to have Kroger and all their partners with all the different brands that they represent. It’s a big win for them. So yes, I think, they do a good job and try and keep everybody happy. “

Previously, when we spoke to you, you mentioned Bowman Gray and you mentioned that you felt sometimes that the Modified drove, like a Cup car there and vice versa. Now that you have run Bowman Gray in a Cup car at the Cook Out Clash, what are your thoughts?

Preece: “It definitely drove really well. And when I say drove really well, I mean, that the cars drove good there. So, I would say, that they drive very, very similar.”

The atmosphere at Bowman Gray – “The Madhouse” – is a different kind of hype than going to Daytona. It was a different mixture of crowd because you had Cup cars there and some Modifieds. What was the team’s vibe like knowing that they were going to that type of a track?

Preece: “They were they were obviously excited about it, and I was too, because, you know, quarter mile racing, that is something that falls into my wheelhouse. So, I think now on how we unloaded and if we if we went back now, I think we would continue to work on it and make it a little bit better. But I thought for our first race together as a team, it went pretty well. And really, really, I think it was good for setting us up for into Daytona this week.”

Previously you mentioned potentially running around 11 Modified races and the NASCAR Modified Tour may not be all the races. Are your plans to run SMART Tour, Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series or other series?

Preece: “Well, I’m going to run, I think at least three [NASCAR Modified Tour] shows: Richmond, New Hampshire and Martinsville. Now that they moved Martinsville back to the Cup weekend, it makes it make racing there possible. So, I plan on doing those races. I plan on doing Stafford, for that Wednesday [July 16 Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series] show. Also, Thompson with the [Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series on May 14]. I ran a couple nights at New Smyrna. I think that there’s maybe one or two other races sprinkled in there somewhere in, in the Northeast. But I’ll also run a Super Late Model, so I’ll stay busy, that’s for sure.“

And last question, do you think that looking out there at the different divisions and all the different Modified races, that potentially there’s just too many modified races right now?

Preece: “Oh, I don’t I think if we’re comparing, you know, the 90’s to now. Yes, you’ve got way more to choose from. It used to be just local race tracks and the traveling series. Now it’s, you know, three or four different series. But I think, at the end of the day, a lot of racers are going to pick tracks where they feel that they’re going to have the most fun. Because at the end of the day, at least, if you race in Modifieds, you’re not racing Modifieds to get rich. You know, usually it’s a hobby so, you want to make sure you’re having a good time.”