Photo Credit: Noel Lanier/OnPitRoad.com
After stepping away from the NASCAR XFINITY Series full-time at the end of last year to focus on the Whelen Modified Tour, Ryan Preece is coming back with a competitive team for two events.
Joe Gibbs Racing announced this morning that the Connecticut driver will race in the XFINITY Series in two races this season beginning with New Hampshire on July 15 and then again at the standalone event at Iowa Speedway on July 29. Preece joins Kyle Benjamin, Christopher Bell and Matt Tifft as some of the young stars Gibbs has hosted this season.
Preece raced full-time in the XFINITY Series for JD Motorsports in 2016 before returning to his roots of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour racing this season. In five races this year, he’s already picked up two wins. Preece has a total of 17 victories in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and three victories in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. He also won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship in 2013.
“I am really excited about the opportunity to race for Joe Gibbs Racing and my crew chief Chris Gabehart and the whole No. 20 team,” Preece said in a statement. “It seems like a great group and they obviously have a great team. I am looking forward to being a part of the No. 20 team and having a winning car. Now I need to put in the time, the effort, the work and get it done. I’m very excited.”
Preece made his NASCAR XFINITY Series debut at New Hampshire in 2013 with Tommy Baldwin Jr. where he finished 24th. He has one career Top-10 in his career that he secured last season at Darlington driving the No. 01 for JD Motorsports. Preece also made his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut at New Hampshire where he finished 32nd, his best finish in five Cup series starts.
“Ryan is the latest young driver to help us with our NASCAR Xfinity Series program. He has been on fire this year with the Modifieds and we have him starting at his home track in New Hampshire for us,” said Steve deSouza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity and Development for Joe Gibbs Racing. “We are looking forward to working with him.”
