Ryan Preece, a NASCAR driver from Connecticut, has long held a passion for cars and racing, aspiring to eventually settle back home after achieving success. Facing uncertainty near the end of the 2024 Cup Series season as a driver without a guaranteed ride, Preece found a renewed opportunity with Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK) and claimed a significant victory at The Clash exhibition race. This emotional win, achieved amid sleet and near-freezing temperatures at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, signals a pivotal moment in his career and fuels his ambitions for sustained success at the highest level of stock car racing.
Breaking Through at The Clash Under Harsh Conditions
The 200-lap event at the quarter-mile oval track was not Preece’s first win in the Cup Series, but the manner of his performance stood out. Competing in challenging weather and against qualifying contenders, Preece emphasized the teamwork and execution that led to victory.
“It shows that you can do it,”
Preece said to the Orlando Sentinel.
“As much as it was an exhibition race, you had to qualify in. You had to execute the entire race as a team to win. As a race car driver and as a team, we did all those things right. We showed that we can go and we can execute and we can compete as a team — in many adverse conditions.”
Upcoming Challenge: Daytona 500 on the Horizon
Riding the momentum from his recent success, Preece now prepares for a vastly different test—the iconic Daytona 500. This event involves racing at speeds close to 200 mph on the 2.5-mile tri-oval at Daytona International Speedway, often navigating tight packs of cars in close, high-risk competition. Preece is no stranger to this challenge, having survived two severe crashes at Daytona, incidents that have defined much of his resilience and mindset in racing.
Overcoming Harrowing Accidents and Family Motivation
During the 2025 Daytona 500, on Lap 197, a collision with Christopher Bell caused Preece’s car to lift on its rear wheels and flip multiple times. Reflecting on the crash, he revealed his focus was on his daughter’s safety amid the turmoil.
“All I thought about was my daughter, so I’m lucky to walk away.”
Rebecca Marie Preece, his daughter, was born just weeks before Preece’s crash during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 when he endured a rollover that caused broken blood vessels in his eyes. Despite the dangers he faced, Preece’s determination has grown stronger, propelled by concern for safety and the evolving design of NASCAR’s Gen 7 cars.
He expressed ongoing unease about vehicle stability, comparing the Gen 7 model to
“a sheet of plywood on a windy day,”
highlighting the fragile nature of the new car generation. Such candid observations underline his vocal stance on driver safety and the physical and mental toughness required in the sport.
“I had a couple people that called me, but one stood out to me,”
Preece recalled.
“They explained this big event that they had wrecked their car on the road. I could tell it felt good for them to talk about it. Most race fans, they might have one accident, maybe, in their lifetime — and maybe it’s a big one, and it had a big impact on them. Race car drivers, we have big wrecks multiple times a season, sometimes, and we just shake it off.”
Building Mental Toughness through Racing Challenges
Preece’s mental fortitude draws parallels to legendary drivers like Ricky Rudd, who famously taped his eyes open to race after suffering a concussion. For Preece, enduring the physical risks is part of the identity he embraces as a competitor.
“Part of being a race car driver is being tough and mentally tough, and that’s who I am and that’s what I want to be,”
he said.
“I want to be somebody that is going to do things that other people won’t.”
Previous Successes in NASCAR’s Lower Series and Modified Tour
Before making his mark in the Cup Series, Preece amassed 26 wins and the 2013 championship in NASCAR’s Modified Tour, a clear indication of his skill and competitive nature. He also secured multiple victories in the Truck and Xfinity series, earning respect that carried him into higher tiers of NASCAR racing.
Despite these accomplishments, the transition to the Cup Series after relocating from Connecticut to North Carolina in 2019 presented challenges, including inconsistent results that made his future uncertain.
Career Uncertainties and a Fresh Start with RFK
As Stewart-Haas Racing announced its closure at the end of 2024, Preece questioned whether he could continue, given a lack of wins and only sporadic top-10 finishes. His concerns about securing a ride and keeping his career alive were real.
“There were many, many times where I thought to myself, am I going to have an opportunity? Am I going to be able to do this? Or is my career done?”
he recalled.
That uncertainty ended when Hall of Fame owner Jack Roush and 36-time Cup Series winner Brad Keselowski offered Preece a seat at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. Driving the No. 60 Ford Mustang during the 2025 season, Preece earned a career-best 14 top-10 finishes and placed 18th in the overall points standings.
“Much like any professional sport, it takes a great team,”
Preece said.
“It’s not like I just woke up in the past year or so and decided to start running well. I’ve always been able to go do it. It was just trying to find the right place to do it.”
Deep New England Roots and Future Aspirations
Reflecting on his origins, Preece fondly recalls competing on short tracks such as Stafford and Thompson speedways in Connecticut and Riverhead Raceway across Long Island Sound in New York. Proud of his heritage, he identifies strongly as a New Englander navigating a sport traditionally dominated by southern drivers.
“I’m a die hard New Englander,”
Preece said.
Despite his northern roots, Preece remains committed to establishing a winning legacy in NASCAR’s Cup Series before returning home. His motivation centers on bringing trophies and achievements to his future life in Connecticut.
“I have every intention of moving back north when I’m done racing,”
he stated.
“But I want to move home with a lot of trophies.”
