Ryan Preece\u2019s NASCAR climb has been fueled by grit and well-timed risks. From his Connecticut Modified roots to an Xfinity gamble that landed him a breakthrough, each step brought bigger opportunities and eventually a NASCAR Cup Series shot. He has built his career on risk and perfectly timed opportunities.\u00a0But Ryan\u2019s rise isn\u2019t just about checkered flags; it\u2019s also about the moments in between, the sacrifices, the uncertainty, and the people who believed in him. And one race changed it all for him.<\/p>\n
Preece\u2019s NASCAR Path has gone through a long list of teams, showcasing both resilience and reliable performance. He cut his teeth on northeastern short tracks, dominating the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with the championship in 2013 before moving into NASCAR\u2019s national circuit. He raced part-time in Xfinity for Tommy Baldwin Racing and JD Motorsports, then scored two wins with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017-2018. That exposure built a case for his move into the Cup series in 2019.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI had the respect of the people I raced,\u201d says Ryan Preece after game-changing win<\/p>\n
Ryan Preece\u2019s first full-time Cup ride came in 2019 when he replaced AJ Allmendinger in the No. 47 Chevrolet for JTG Daugherty Racing. However, the defining turning point arrived when Ryan got his break with Joe Gibbs Racing.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Dale Jr. on DJD, Ryan Preece opened up about the race that gave him the respect he deserved.<\/a> He said, \u201cIt was fun because what was really cool about it is the people that you race against\u2014even if you had the biggest rivalry with them\u2014they respected you enough to say, \u201cMan, that was it. That was cool. Watching you win was like one of us.\u201d You know what I mean? So, earning the respect\u2014I mean, I had the respect of the people I raced. Yeah. But it was\u2014that was the neat part. They were pulling for you.\u201d<\/p>\n The breakthrough moment came at Iowa Speedway in July 2017, where Ryan secured his first Xfinity Series<\/a> victory in dramatic overtime at the US Cellular 250. He had won the pole, survived a green-white checkered finish, and beat current standouts like Kyle Benjamin and Brian Scott through the line, a performance Ryan later described as life-changing that earned him respect within the upper tiers of the sport.<\/p>\n The current RFK driver said<\/a>, \u201cAll of a sudden, I get a call from Steve de Souza saying, \u201cHey, Ryan, you know, what do you want to do? Are you busy next year? Would you be available to run so-and-so races?\u201d And it ended up being 15\u201414 or 15 races. And the reason being is Christopher Bell was going in the 20. I think it was. Yeah, it was the 20. Rheem was supposed to be on the car, but I guess there were 10 races where there was another sponsor, so there was a conflict. So, they had to put 10 races somewhere else. So, they end up calling me saying, \u201cHey, we\u2019re going to\u2014we\u2019re going to put you in for these 10 races in the 18.\u201d<\/p>\n