0
0
By Ronald Young/Myracenews
As the Cup Series takes the weekend off before picking up the schedule next week. Ryan Preece will take a break from settling into his new ride this season with RFK Racing and spend time with family. A transition which has resulted in more speed and better results on the track for the Connecticut native.
It is no secret Preece’s winning ways on the modified scene up north a decade ago were replaced with many setbacks as he tried to establish himself in the Cup Series. After stints at JTG Daugherty and Stewart-Haas Racing with minimal success. Preece has now moved over to the three-car team co-owned by Brad Keselowski that also includes Chris Buescher.
Now a Cup veteran, Preece has made 196 career starts and is entering his sixth season of full-time competition. After 9 races this year the team has had one top-5 and 3 top-10 finishes. They currently sit 14th in points and have led 43 laps.
So Ryan, how would you assess your season so far?
“I feel good about the start we’ve had,” Preece said. “I’m looking forward to the upcoming races because of the different perspectives and I think some of the strengths we are working on will show.”
“We have done a good job laying the foundation and now we’ve got to continue to push forward.”
One reason for Preece’s optimism is a strong qualifying effort at Darlington earlier this month where he started 2nd and ran in the top-10 all day until a caution during green flag pit stops pushed him back in the running order and ultimately a 16th place finish.
Next up is Talladega before the Cup Series heads to the intermediate tracks at Texas, Kansas and Charlotte. The All Star race on the North Wilkesboro short track completes May’s schedule and fits in nicely with Preece’s racing roots.
In the past Preece admits he was not too excited about this string of races but he knows the team is getting better each week and brighter days are ahead despite struggling at Bristol.
“The run wasn’t where we all wanted, but I felt like with the circumstances and how qualifying went(started 26th). We made the most of the situation.”
“One thing about our group is on the days you’re challenged we are able to persevere,” Preece stated after a 20th place finish in ‘Thunder Valley’. “We are able to find those little moments that you need to make the best of a worst day.”
So far Preece is pleased with the chemistry he has developed with his teammates and knows that rapport will improve the organization.
“It has been really good,” Preece stated. “Each one of us has something that the other needs to a certain extent. Brad is super detailed in his analysis and Chris is really good at the road courses and mile and a half(tracks). I am really good at short tracks and we all compliment what the program is striving to become.
The race at Talladega marks the start of twenty-eight consecutive weeks of Cup racing-the longest stretch ever- until the season concludes in November at Phoenix. Yet Preece is looking forward to the challenge.
“A lot of us raced in the weekly series coming up the ranks where we ran 3 or 4 nights a week. On top of that it was running from the end of March to November.
I feel like I am ready since I used to do that”, Preece added.
“It can be tough even though you race only Sunday you are gone 2 or 3 days each week. Trying to have a good balance is important but I love it. To me it’s life.
One area that has shined so far this season has been the pit crew.
“Our pit crew has been doing a phenomenal job,” Preece stated at Bristol. “Every week we are building more confidence in each other. ‘Where I am placing the car’ and they are doing all the little things right to improve our stops.”
“This is a big team sport and everyone needs to do their part. I am really enjoying working with the group we are building and just trying to pump each other up.”
Unlike it was back in the 90’s, Few active drivers today take on the dual role of car owner . Brad Keselowski is an exception. However Preece says it has not been a distraction.
“I have not even noticed the owner’s hat for Brad”, Preece added. “The thing I have enjoyed the most is the knowledge he is willing to share.I went into this deal with an open mind and I wanted to push myself and be better and do all the things you need to do right. Brad has been a huge influence so far.”
So the next goal is to park in victory lane. Preece feels it is just a matter of time.
“The speed is in the car,” Preece added. “It has been consistent too, we are not just a flash in the pan. You need to be consistently in the top-10…top-5 to give yourself opportunities.”
“Are we where we want to be?”,no but we are certainly building momentum to where we want to be’. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I feel good about it.”
After a tough race at Daytona in February that ended with his car carried back to the garage on a rollback, Preece views the upcoming race at Talladega as a learning experience that will require teamwork to win.
“With how fast the Ford’s have been on the superspeedways it is just another opportunity to gain knowledge from Brad and his point of view on how we should be preparing and working together to get a Ford in victory lane. We are selfish though and we want it to be one of our (RFK) cars. To me that balance is just as exciting as how fast we are on the speedways.”
