Ryan Preece is the last of the four Stewart-Haas Racing Cup drivers to declare his 2025 plans.
But with the strong possibility of expansion at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, the 33-year-old former Whelen Modified champion finds himself on the company’s short list.
After witnessing the metamorphosis of RFK since Brad Keselowski joined the organization, it’s an opportunity Preece would relish.
“Obviously, what they’ve done in the NextGen era has been pretty impressive,” Preece said. “Right now, I’m not sure what I’ll be doing or what path I’m going down, but that would be a really good one.”
Preece’s first full season of Cup competition was alongside RFK’s Chris Buescher at JTG Daugherty Racing in 2019. Both he and Buescher were sponsored by Kroger during their three-year runs with JTGD.
According to a Sports Business Journal report on Aug. 16, RFK is “expected to secure The Kroger Co.’s NASCAR sponsorship” in 2025. Rekindling a relationship between Buescher and Preece along with support from the grocery giant would make for an easy transition.
The missing piece, for now, is acquiring a charter. With the two remaining SHR charters already spoken for—to 23XI Racing and Trackhouse Racing—pending on an agreement resolution with NASCAR, RFK’s most likely path is a leasing option. Scuttlebutt in the garage leans to RFK leasing one of the Rick Ware Racing charters until a permanent charter can be acquired.
For the last two seasons, Preece has worked to build momentum in the No. 41 Ford at Stewart-Haas Racing. Under the direction of Chad Johnston, the affable racer has already matched his top five and top 10-results from 2013 despite SHR’s plans to shutter its Cup program at season’s end.
“There were some things we started off so strong doing,” Preece said of his tenure at SHR. “It just takes a whole lot of pieces. I was listening to a podcast the other day, and the old-school thought is that it takes raw talent—but there’s so much more to it.
“I think the driver communication piece, when you strap into that race car as a race car driver, is the brain of it. The communication can make or break you. Finding a way to get the most out of people…is the key to having a successful organization.”
Certainly new surroundings could be the spark that jumpstarts Preece’s NASCAR careers. And Buescher’s blossoming under Keselowski’s tutelage is not lost on Preece. Prior to the 2012 Cup champion’s arrival at RFK, Buescher had just one win and one Playoff appearance. Over the last three seasons, the No. 17 team has four wins, finished seventh in the standings last season is currently 13th in the standings and 16th on the Playoff grid.
“Yeah, it would definitely be nice,” Preece said. “Brad is somebody you could definitely soak (information/experience) up on and lean on. Whatever it is that I go into next year, hopefully, it’s to continue to grow and to learn and be better as a race car driver.”
While the Berlin, Connecticut, native hasn’t achieved the results he has hoped for in Cup, the journey has never dampened Preece’s desire.
“Confidence is a huge part of this sport,” Preece said. “What has carried me in this sport as long as I’ve been here is confidence. I have never lacked the thought that if I strap in, then I can go out and win. As long as the speed is there and all the right things, and everything works out that day, I know I can execute a race.
“It just takes a lot of parts and pieces to make sure that happens. There is so much more to being successful and having what it takes mentally is a huge piece of the puzzle.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
