On Tuesday, Ryan Preece secured a commanding victory in the 60-lap Tour Type Modified feature at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing held at New Smyrna Speedway. This win came shortly after his notable triumph in the NASCAR Cup Series Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium just two days prior, drawing widespread attention from the racing community. Preece’s success at New Smyrna reflected a return to his racing roots and demonstrated his versatility across different car series.
Key Moments and Competition Details During the Modified Feature
Preece engaged in a tense battle throughout the race, ultimately pulling ahead of Patrick Emerling in the final laps to claim the top spot. Tyler Rypkema initially took the early lead by outpacing Preece on the first lap, but Preece made a decisive pass on lap 18 to seize control entering turn three. Fellow competitor Ronnie Williams moved past Rypkema to second place shortly after, but fell off the pace and entered the pits by lap 29.
The race featured several interruptions, including an early caution on lap four triggered by Amy Catalano’s wreck. During this pause, Paulie Hartwig III, the winner of the opening night event of the five-night series, spent considerable time on pit road addressing a leak in his car. Another caution came on lap 27 after Stephen Kopcik crashed solo in turn three, shaking up the field once again.
Competitors Reflect on Their Performances and Team Efforts
Preece expressed enthusiasm about the week’s races, saying,
“Just having a lot of fun,”
and added,
“These past seven days have been a lot of fun, racing with my dad, racing with my friends. To go from Bowman Gray, drive down here, race the Late Model and then race this Modified and get back into victory lane, it was really cool. For years I’ve been chasing after that field and I see the 60 car of Matt Hirschman and I feel like I wish he was here racing because I have something that could race with him. Maybe next year we can get that rivalry going again.”
Patrick Emerling, who overcame motor issues that forced him to miss Monday’s race, finished strongly in second place. He acknowledged his team’s effort, stating,
“Hats off to the USNEPower 1 team. I’d like to thank them for the opportunity to come race here, Team owner David Miller and the whole USNEPower team. We had a good car. [Preece] was really flying. We have a little bit to go.”
Jimmy Blewett, improving from a sixth place finish on Monday to third on Tuesday, commented on the team’s progress:
“We just missed it a little bit on the tires tonight. We had the stagger open up on us where last night it closed when I was able to come from the back to the front. Top three finish for us, it’s basically a fresh team. … This car we have no notebook for. … We’re working hard at it. We’re just going to podium to death. If we can stay up front the rest of the week we’ve got a solid shot at taking him this points championship.”
Implications for the Remainder of the New Smyrna Series
With this being the second night of a five-night stretch of Tour Type Modified races at New Smyrna, Preece’s victory establishes him as a strong contender for the overall championship. The competition has been intense and unpredictable, featuring mechanical challenges and multiple cautions, requiring drivers to maintain focus and strategic driving. Preece’s performance after recent NASCAR success signals his ability to compete at top levels across different formats, potentially setting up future rivalries and exciting contests as the series continues.
The upcoming nights at New Smyrna will test the endurance and adaptability of all drivers and teams involved, with emerging storylines such as Preece’s rivalry hopes with Matt Hirschman adding to the narrative tension. As the series progresses, each race outcome will significantly impact the standings and momentum heading into the latter stages of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.
