Modified Driver Preece Headed To Iowa
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regular Ryan Preece has landed a one-race deal with car owner Maxie Bush to drive the No. 28 Ford in the US Cellular 200, a combined race between the NASCAR Camping World Series East and NASCAR Camping World Series West.
“It’s definitely going to be a fun experience,” Preece said. “It’s going to be my first time in a full-bodied car. I’m getting out of the open-wheeled stuff to try this, and I’m real excited.”
In his first foray in fendered racing, Preece will look to qualify the Bush Racing Ford Fusion among a large field of entries for the event that will start 44 cars. Last year’s race drew a record crowd of nearly 25,000 and saw eventual NASCAR Camping World Series East Champion Joey Logano beat NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kevin Harvick to the checkered flag.
“I’m really looking forward to Iowa,” Preece said. “I have my little simulator at home and I’ve probably been doing 500 laps a day on that thing.”
The last time out in his No. 3 Mizzy Construction Chevrolet for Boehler Racing Enterprises in the Spring Sizzler at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway, the 17-year-old Preece became the youngest driver in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour history to earn the Coors Light Pole Award. He then ran up front for 64 laps during the race, the first laps led in his two-year career.
The US Cellular 200 is set to go green at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, May 18 in Newton, Iowa. The race will be carried live by HDNet and will be rebroadcast on SPEED. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will next race Friday, May 23 at Stafford.
Sources:Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR