CONCORD, N.C. – Ryan Preece’s hard work and dedication to himself has paid off.
On Friday morning at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, JTG Daugherty officially announced the signing of Preece to a multi-year contract as the driver of the team’s No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 beginning with the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
The team also confirmed their switch of engines from Richard Childress Racing to Hendrick Motorsports next season. Preece will work with teammate Chris Buescher who will return to the team next season too.
The 27-year-old former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion has most recently been running a partial Xfinity Series schedule with Joe Gibbs Racing while continuing his Modified career.
Preece will replace A.J. Allmendinger, who was released from his contract at the end of the 2018 season.
“I’m really thankful for the opportunity for being able to race for Tad and Jodi and Brad and those guys, it’s just a dream come true,” said Preece. “A lot of you know the path that I’ve gone down and the sleepless nights that I’ve gone through to chase after trophies and win races. To finally get to this level, and earn it, it’s really a short-tracker’s dream to finally get here and to race for such people with class.
“It’s a family owned team and that’s something that I’ve always been a part of with different Modified teams.”
In nine Xfinity races this season with JGR, Preece won his second career race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and has collected four top-five and six top-10 finishes.
Entering Saturday afternoon’s Drive for the Cure 200, he has made a total of 49 starts since 2013.
Preece is no stranger to competing in the Cup Series. In 2015, he made five starts for car owner Mike Curb, earning a best finish of 32nd in his debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. On
Friday, Preece said he can win with JTG Daugherty.
“So, like Tad (Geschickter) said about coming to the shop and seeing what Ernie has helped build over the few years I was super impressed. I know what it takes to win. I know what it takes in people and infrastructure,” he added.
“What they are willing to do there are just so many different things, so when I went to that shop and just saw as a courtesy I was like man, this is impressive. There is a lot to work with here, we can win. We can as long as we put the pieces of the puzzle together and make it all work together, we can get there. I’m not looking at it as hey if we finish 15th it’s a great day.
“We are going to constantly work harder. I mean there are going to be goals along the way to get to that point, but I make decisions based on what I feel we can do and I feel like we can achieve that goal and get there.”
In addition to winning the Modified championship in 2013, Preece has 22 wins, 76 top-five and 102 top-10 finishes in 155 career starts.
The Berlin, Connecticut native was also named to NASCAR’s elite “NASCAR NEXT” Class in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
“We’re really looking forward to having Ryan join our team for the 2019 season,” team co-owner Tad Geschickter said. “Ryan has an impressive list of accomplishments in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and is now being given a great opportunity to compete at NASCAR’s highest level full-time.
“We really believe in him and think he’s a great addition to the team.”
As for the hurdles Preece will have to climb in his rookie season? He says he can’t answer that now but is prepared to stay focused and get the job done.
I think really it’s just going to be racing a different group of drivers, elite drivers, to be honest with you being on the same track you’ve got your ‘Big Three’ (Martin) Truex, Jr., (Kevin) Harvick, and Kyle Busch.
“They have gotten to where they are because they are really good. You are going to be racing against a lot of really good drivers, but I’m not afraid of that. I’m looking forward to getting out there with them and getting to that point of where you gain respect by racing them and racing them right. But, we are going to race hard.
“We are going to have some fun and hurdle wise, I really couldn’t tell you right now to be honest with you. I don’t plan on having many problems, but I’m going to look forward to going out there and racing week-in and week-out and just learning every time I’m out there.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
