RFK Racing and Ryan Preece have turned heads already with a number of sturdy showings this yr. Sitting contained in the playoffs on factors for the time being, this group did not even exist final yr and hadn’t named a crew chief to move its efforts till January of this yr. And but, Preece and the No. 60 RFK Ford are sitting 14th within the common season standings, proper behind teammate Chris Buescher.
In an unique interview with Motorsport.com, the Celsius-backed Preece revealed the way it all got here collectively and the way — at one level — he was getting ready himself to face 2025 with no job in NASCAR.
“I believe there’s at all times doubt, or a second of uncertainty,” defined Preece. “I keep in mind in August, September, I used to be taking a look at properties in Connecticut to go and presumably transfer again there and do this, so it was simply…I didn’t actually know. I’m grateful that all of it did come collectively as a result of it does take a number of issues. And actually, I really feel prefer it made me a greater individual, being right here. A greater driver, a greater teammate. It’s been a number of nice life classes I’ve discovered in a brief time frame.”
Taking dangers and by no means settling
Preece, a champion in NASCAR’s Modified division, mentioned it was a name Brad Keselowski that first gave him hope, however he nonetheless wasn’t solely positive he could be on the grid this yr. And regardless of how lengthy it took for RFK to formally announce an enlargement to 3 automobiles, leasing a constitution from Rick Ware Racing — Preece by no means thought to accept one thing else simply to make sure employment for the season.
“There was a chance to type of go and solidify that I had a job and I’d be on the market, however I’m not okay as a race automobile driver or as an individual simply being on the market,” revealed Preece. “That’s settling. I might have completed that a very long time in the past and I in all probability wouldn’t have had the profession that I’ve. I’m a giant danger taker. I’m going to wager on myself and hope folks wager on me as nicely. All of it labored out.”
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photograph by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Photographs
Preece has three prime tens and a greatest end of third thus far this yr, as nicely a stage win. As for a way nicely issues are going for the time being, nearly all of folks watching could also be stunned, however Preece, who’s at all times able to wager on himself, just isn’t.
“I’m not stunned,” mentioned Preece. “And I’m not stunned as a result of as a race automobile driver and the issues that I’ve completed in my previous – for anyone that has actually recognized me, I’m extraordinarily aggressive and just about all the pieces I’ve raced, I’ve gained in. I believe within the NASCAR Cup Sequence, it’s extraordinarily aggressive, however you additionally want a number of items of the puzzle to make all of it work. You may solely accomplish that a lot. It’s been very nice. What I’ll say that I’m more than pleased about is how rapidly the #60 group has gelled and are available collectively.
“Going into the season, a number of our group actually didn’t get employed or put into the positions that they had been in till January. When you concentrate on that, you bought The Conflict initially of February after which that leads into the five hundred. In order that’s not a number of time after which there’s three or 4 core veterans in our group and the remainder of them are all new. They’ve both been doing this for 2 years and for a few of them, it’s their first time within the Cup Sequence, doing this. It’s been a pleasant change, definitely for me. I’ve been working actually arduous to get this sort of alternative and I really feel like RFK has been a breath of contemporary air and one thing that has type of opened my eyes in a unique perspective – working with anyone like Brad [Keselowski], in addition to being teammates with Chris [Buescher] once more. It’s been good.
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
Reaching Victory Lane
The one factor Preece does not have but, is a Cup Sequence win. It is a obtrusive goose egg on his stat web page, which options wins within the Xfinity and Truck Sequence, and over two dozen victories as a Whelen Modified driver. However after practically 200 begins on the Cup stage with no win, can he lastly knock on the door of Victory Lane with this No. 60 group?
“I believe there’s at all times work to be completed, however what I like is that there’s a stable basis,” commented Preece. “There’s been a number of prep for Talladega and a number of us – whether or not you’re a fan, a crew member or a driver – you realize going to superspeedways is type of such as you nearly have a look at it such as you want a number of luck. However there’s a number of prep, there’s a number of issues you are able to do as a group or a driver to assist your probabilities or odds.
“I really feel actually good about this weekend, in addition to the stretch we’re going into. I do know I get labelled because the man who’s extra in regards to the brief observe model of racing. You understand, your Martinsvilles and your Bristols, New Hampshires. However I’ve actually grown to love superspeedways. I’ve grown to essentially like highway programs, in addition to mile-and-a-halfs. So, I really feel like these subsequent few months are going to swimsuit our group. So, we really feel like we’re getting there. We’ve got a very quick pit crew. Derrick [Finley, crew chief] has been doing a very good job with the group and making nice calls. We simply gotta put all of it collectively.”
Ryan Preece, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Getty Photographs
As for the place that win would come, Preece notes how he tries to dwell his life “one week at a time,” however he is definitely excited in regards to the subsequent stretch of races developing. Rattling off observe names corresponding to Talladega, Texas, Kansas, North Wilkesboro (exhibition race), Charlotte and Nashville, he mentioned: “These are all locations I actually like. My Cup profession, in case you type of have a look at it statistically, they’re type of in all places. However I actually really feel going into this that we’re going to have a very good month of constructing and momentum, and hopefully, alternatives to capitalize.”
As Preece already indicated, he’s amongst those that are desperate to get to ‘Dega, whereas others are seemingly dreading it. Which will confound some folks as Preece has an unlucky historical past of huge hits and unplanned flights at superspeedways, however nonetheless, he sees the chance to win and that is all of the motivation he wants.
“Yeah. For me, and I do know there’s a number of memes about all 4 tires going off the bottom and flipping, however I have a look at it as an important alternative to lock your self in (for the playoffs),” defined Preece. “It might be good to try this. Proper now, we’re solidly thirteenth in factors. We’re about 40 (factors) out of seventh after I final appeared. And there’s an important alternative to a minimum of chase after pointing your approach in however let’s be trustworthy, I believe it’s going to take profitable in order that’s the aim. On the similar time, we’re going to attempt to run our races and have nice factors days when these can be found, however on the similar time, we have to go win.”
Decided to succeed
Not like a number of drivers on the grid, Preece by no means had enormous backing behind him and wanted to claw for each likelihood he is gotten behind the wheel. There are different drivers on the market like him who’ve turned heads by showcasing their expertise in flashes of greatness, serving to to propel themselves ahead into the Cup Sequence. Preece has had these moments as nicely, like when he dominated a NASCAR Xfinity race at Iowa, or when he gained at Nashville in back-to-back years within the Truck Sequence.
However Preece will not enable himself to really feel content material in his place on the grid, at all times combating to go the additional mile on the observe and off.
“The truth of it’s that this sport rewards – hopefully – arduous work,” mentioned Preece. “There’s a number of guys that you may take into consideration how established they had been after which one yr they’re gone and also you don’t even take into consideration them. So, that’s simply type of the character of the beast. I might say there have been key moments that helped to maintain me on this sport, like after I gained Iowa. That bought me one other alternative. And after I gained Bristol, that bought me my alternative with JTG and type of began some conversations and when that constitution was going away and I wasn’t actually positive what was going to occur subsequent – after I gained that race at Nashville – that helped create conversations.
“So these are key moments after which relationships and simply making an attempt to be the most effective racer, the most effective individual I might be. One of the best individual for my sponsors…all these issues add up. There are such a lot of completely different roles you play as a race automobile driver and I really feel like I’ve worn a number of completely different hats. Once I didn’t actually know what I used to be going to be doing, I used to be sustaining, crew chiefing, doing all that with the Modified stuff. So, I bought my palms soiled. I labored actually arduous to be the place I’m. And I’m not going to be happy till I’m going out and achieve these targets I’ve as an individual.”
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
For these making an attempt to comply with Preece on the observe this yr, it has been a colourful journey and never simply due to the spectacular finishes and airborne excursions. His paint schemes change consistently and this weekend, he’ll carry Celsius branding on his No. 60 Ford.
Talking extra about sponsor relationships and the way he integrates it into his ever day life, Preece mentioned of the Celsius deal: “What’s good about that is there’s occasions whenever you signify completely different sponsors and then you definitely begin utilizing them in your on a regular basis life or having them. Like I had United Leases so I began renting their tools, however for me, after I’m within the store, caffeine is type of that factor that helps me focus or set up ideas. I like to enter my store and dig via these late hours.
“I’m sometimes a man who will get up at 5 within the morning and I get a number of stuff completed after which I’m into mattress by 8. I additionally do a number of my greatest work in my store from 7 (am) to 10-11 (am), so it’s good to have that little pick-me-up and get on the market and never essentially thrash, however really feel I’m being productive. I really feel like I am extra productive after I drink my favourite flavors, which has been watermelon right here. We’ve had it within the hauler and I’ve favored it rather a lot.”
Ryan Preece, Celsius paint scheme for Talladega
All of the items are becoming collectively for Preece to have an actual run on the playoffs. The No. 60 are meshing collectively nicely, the sponsors are comfortable, and Preece is is loving working with teammates Buescher and Keselowski. He wished to attend for the suitable alternative for him and it looks as if he has finallyfound that with RFK Racing.
“Chris and I simply have very related pursuits,” mentioned Preece. “They’re very related, however they’re very completely different on the similar time. He likes off-roading and lifted vans and issues of that nature whereas I like lowered, quick, road automobiles. Something with a motor. I’m an adrenaline man. I believe we each type of have our personal methods of getting our repair – aside from racing in NASCAR. So, that’s been good simply to be round him and be lighthearted and joke round.
“You understand, in addition to Brad. He’s our group proprietor (and) he’s our teammate. He’s bought a number of completely different hats. What I’ve favored being teammates with him is the attitude and data and the expertise that he has. I really feel like after I was teammates with Chris and he spent three years with Brad, you possibly can simply see the expertise and data that he’s taken from Brad as nicely. In order that’s been very nice to be part of and actually how open Brad has been. As a race automobile driver, we’re all teammates but it surely’s simple to say you are gonna be a very good teammate however theres different occasions as a race automobile driver you should be egocentric. Brad just isn’t egocentric. He’s been tremendous and it’s been nice to be part of this group and dealing with him and all these issues. He’s helped me be a greater teammate inside my group, be a greater teammate to every of them, and people issues translate to choices we make on the race observe.”
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