Preece Follows Family Path to Top
NASCAR Next Driver Aims To Make Step Up To National Series
Ryan Preece has racing in his blood.
His family has been involved in auto racing his entire life. It started with his grandfather Bob Judkins, who owned modified cars in Connecticut, and was a crew chief for those cars racing throughout the Northeast.
“It’s always been a family thing,” Preece said. “My father started racing in his twenties, and I’ve been racing since I’ve been able to walk.” He has two older brothers Shaun and Matt, who are both very supportive of his racing prowess. “My Mom Jodi is also very supportive, and my family always goes to all my races.”
Preece, 23, who hails from Berlin, Conn., is one of NASCAR’s up-and-coming young drivers. Last year, Preece became the first modified driver to be select to the NASCAR Next program, an industry initiative designed to spotlight the rising stars in the sport. Since its inception in 2011, the NASCAR Next program has served to elevate the profiles of drivers such as Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Darrell Wallace Jr., Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney among the a wave of young talent making its way up the NASCAR ladder.
Preece will get his opportunity to showcase his talent behind the wheel in the final NASCAR Nationwide Series race this year at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 15. His first Nationwide race was in 2013 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where he finished 21st. Preece said it was extremely exciting to race in the series then, and was a great learning experience.
Preece also points to some current NASCAR drivers that they were in his shoes at one point trying to make a name for themselves in the sport.
“I’m always looking at them to see where I can make myself better,” Preece said. “Anytime you can talk to these guys and get a grasp on how they are racing will help you a lot in your career.”
How does Preece get ready for the race in Miami next month?
“I’m doing everything I can to prepare for the race. I have a DVD of some past races that I’m studying to help me get comfortable racing on that race track,” Preece said. “I’m learning different techniques to race, and I have some really great sponsors that are helping make this race possible with East West Marine, Falmouth Ready Mix, Dunleavy’s Truck & Trailer Repair, and Accel Construction. Without these sponsors I would not be racing in this race.”
Preece says he’s also been scouring YouTube to watch NASCAR footage to get ready. “I use any tool at my disposal to get prepared.”
Before he gets to Miami, he has two more modified races on deck this weekend.
Preece will finish up the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season with Sunday’s Sunoco World Series 150 presented by Xtra Mart. While some early season struggles prevented Preece from defending his championship, he remains just 15 points out of second place. Also Sunday, Preece leads Keith Rocco by 10 points in the Sunoco Modified Division, Thompson’s Division I in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Preece finished sixth in the Whelen All-American Series national standings, racing at Thompson, Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway and Waterford Speedbowl, and New York’s Riverhead Raceway.
It was Preece’s success on multiple levels of racing that put him on the radar for NASCAR Next selection last year. Since being part of the program, he’s made the most of the opportunity.
NASCAR Next represents an opportunity for the drivers to build enduring connections with a new generation of race fans, and for the fans to get to know the future stars of professional motorsports.
“It’s pretty cool to be voted into that program and be the only modified driver in it,” Preece said. “The program puts you in a great spot to be successful, gives you all the tools to do well, and make opportunities for yourself. It’s been great for my racing resume, great to go to all the tracks and race with being in the program, and helps people know who I am.”
Preece’s first NASCAR-sanctioned race was in the NASCAR Southern Whelen Modified Tour at Caraway Speedway in North Carolina.
“We got a top-five finish, and my racing career really started to blossom from there,” Preece said. “My first year in 2007 (on the Whelen Modified Tour) was definitely tough, but I kept going at it, and was able to cut my teeth in that series.”
Preece says his ultimate goal one day is to get to NASCAR highest level, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and race against NASCAR’s top stars like Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Preece said, “It doesn’t happen overnight, my first step is to get a full –time ride in the NASCAR Camping World or NASCAR Nationwide Series’. I just need that opportunity and I’ll take it from there.”
Sources: Brad Klein, NASCAR