Ryan Preece Teams Up With Ole Blue for 2008 Season

By admin March 17, 2008

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has an interesting pairing setup for the 2008 season. Sophomore competitor Ryan Preece of Kensington, CT, will be pairing up with one of the most-storied teams in Modified history, Boehler Racing Enterprises. Preece has found recent success on the Modified campaign, capturing his first victory during Speedweeks at New Smyrna, FL.

The seventeen-year-old is the grandson of legendary car owner Bobby Judkins, whose #2X was piloted by the likes of Hall of Famers Gene Bergin and Ed Flemke. In an ironic twist, the new driver of Ole Blue will be driving for a team his grandfather competed against during the 1960s and 1970s. Given the track record of Boehler and Judkins in New England racing, the team is primed for success. Another talented New Englander, Bobby Santos, III, scored a popular victory at the Thompson World Series last Fall, as the latest winner in the distinctive #3.

With a little help from his friends, Preece was able to secure a chance to drive the car. “John ‘Lucas’ Savage was really pushing for me, along with my dad and Kenny Bouchard to get me in that car.” Bouchard, a former driver of the BRE #3 himself, won a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Monadnock in 1986 during his stint with the late Lenny Boehler’s team. Janice Boehler currently owns the East Freetown, MA based team.

Preece appreciates the opportunity before him. “This is definitely a really good path. It’s a top notch team. They are a great bunch of guys and I have the pleasure of driving a car for them.”

“My dad ran a top notch operation. But it’s time to take the next step and drive for someone else. I believe that the #3 will be a top contender this year. They have the equipment and the motors and everything they need to do it. Hopefully at the end of the year we could have a win or 2 and a nice finish in the points.”

With more seat time and a new organization entering 2008, Preece has an extra bounce in his step. “I believe I matured very much throughout the year, and took a different view on a race. Sure, I want to win, but in order to make a car better, you have to finish the race and work on it at the shop to make the chances you want to. If you wreck it, you can’t make those changes and can only start off from where you were in the first place.”

A young student in the field of Modified racing, Preece is certainly making the most out of his teenage years in terms of racing experience. In addition to the full Whelen Modified Tour slate, he will be racing a NEMA Midget for Tim Bertrand and open competition races with his own #40 Modified as his schedule allows. The prestigious Race of Champions 200 at Oswego, NY Speedway is also a possibility.

Sources: Nicholas Teto

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