Ryan Preece’s remarkable NASCAR comeback story began with a shockwave moment in the Cup Series: Carl Edwards’ unexpected retirement in January 2017. Preece, at that time living at home with no plans for a return, found renewed opportunity thanks to the seat Edwards vacated. This crucial shift triggered a sequence of events that offered Preece a second chance in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and dramatically changed the direction of his racing career.
Edwards’ decision to step away arrived just two months after a heart-wrenching finale at Homestead, where a late caution upended his shot at a championship. At only 37, having secured three wins in 2016 and established himself as a Hall of Fame talent, Edwards chose to retire on a high note. His rationale reflected deep personal considerations, focusing on family and long-term health rather than the bitter ending to his last race. By retiring satisfied and healthy, the iconic driver ensured his legacy was preserved on his terms, sending ripples through NASCAR’s elite ranks.
Preece’s road back to relevance started with immediate action. He contacted Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity side, specifically reaching out to president Steve D’Souza, when Daniel Suarez was promoted to replace Edwards. Preece acted decisively, snatching up opportunities others passed over, including a slot at his home track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway. That single call marked the beginning of his re-emergence in national NASCAR circles.
Preece’s Leap: Turning Chance Into a Career Revival
Preece entered the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing on a part-time basis, first tackling New Hampshire and quickly following up at Iowa Speedway. His standout performances—including two additional races in 2017 and a partial schedule the following year—showcased his abilities in top-level machinery. During these crucial campaigns, he tallied two Xfinity Series wins, one a coveted Dash 4 Cash triumph at Bristol, alongside ten top-10 finishes in just fifteen starts. The journey that reignited his career all stemmed from his willingness to seize the moment presented by Carl Edwards’ sudden exit.
Reflecting on his journey and this pivotal period, Preece shared openly with Dale Junior on the DJD podcast:
When I moved home, I had no intentions of trying to come back. I was at that time until Carl Edwards retired. That triggered the domino effect, and that domino effect was Daniel Suarez moving up into the cup and leaving an open seat at Gibbs. Steve D’Souza was the president of the Xfinity side at Joe Gibbs Racing.
—Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Driver
Preece’s outreach was bold and direct:
So I end up calling Steve, saying, you know, ‘Hey, Ryan Preece, I don’t know if you know me, but I’d really like to know if you have any available races this year.’ And he tells me, you know, ‘We’re filling up pretty quick, but I think, you know, if you were able to commit now, these are the ones that we’d have open.’ And it ended up being New Hampshire, because nobody wanted to race New Hampshire. I’m like, ‘Hell yeah, that’ll be great. And Iowa.’
—Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Driver
What followed was a series of life-changing races that cemented his place at the national level. The highlight came at the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway, where, in only his second start for Joe Gibbs Racing, Preece delivered a breakout performance. Securing pole position with an impressive lap, he dominated by leading 141 laps and ultimately held off a late charge from Kyle Benjamin for a photo-finish victory by just 0.054 seconds.
Defining Moments: Iowa Victory Makes the Difference
The Iowa race became a touchstone in Preece’s comeback, revealing his grit under pressure and validating his gamble to return to NASCAR. He captured the racing public’s imagination by outlasting veterans even as late-race cautions threatened to derail his effort. Preece recounted the tension and strategy at play:
And then we went to Iowa, qualified on the pole. We were fast in practice. I remember we were leading in stage three, and I’m getting loose, like real loose. And my thing was modified to that point in time, was I, was really damn good at burning a right rear off. And I am just driving my ass off, moving up, trying to get grip. And Kyle Benjamin’s coming, and we start getting cautions.
—Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Driver
He added perspective on his achievement and gratitude for those who helped along the way:
And those cautions ultimately, I think, saved that race for me. You know, that final restart comes, do everything right, clear Kyle, and win the race. I knew I had what it took to win races if I had the people around me. I’m thankful every day that I did what I did. As well as meeting Chris Gabehart, that whole deal changed my life.
—Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Driver
This breakout victory in Iowa not only secured Preece a place in NASCAR’s winner’s circle but also earned him future opportunities and solidified his confidence. His triumph was the result of relentless self-belief and the dogged pursuit of every available chance, qualities that define so many underdog stories in American motorsport.
The Battle for Playoff Survival: Buescher and Preece in the Spotlight
As the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season advances, Ryan Preece again finds himself needing another comeback—this time, a push into the playoffs. Bubba Wallace’s recent win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has complicated matters, shifting the playoff landscape and setting up a fierce showdown between Preece and his RFK Racing teammate Chris Buescher. While Preece produced a standout fourth-place finish at the Brickyard 400 after starting 23rd and leading for twelve laps, Wallace’s timely victory widened the points gap and left Preece outside the cut line by 42 points.
Buescher currently holds the critical 16th and final playoff position, placing immense pressure on both drivers as only four regular season races remain. Preece is left with one clear route: win a race before the cutoff and secure his playoff berth. In an interview with Frontstretch, Preece confronted the challenge with honesty:
I mean with how fast the 17 and the 48 are. I would say they’re gonna have to have some really bad luck and I don’t wish that on Chris, so we’re going have to win. Iowa is a track I feel I’d like to make a great memory at.
—Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Driver
This high-stakes battle between teammates brings an added layer of emotional intensity to the closing stretch. Every lap, pit stop, and race strategy will be scrutinized as Preece seeks to channel the “Iowa magic” of his earlier Xfinity success in hopes of edging past Buescher for that coveted playoff slot.
What Lies Ahead: Legacy, Opportunity, and a Chance at Redemption
The story of Ryan Preece’s NASCAR comeback continues to inspire fans and fellow drivers alike, a testament to resilience, timing, and seizing life-changing opportunity. With the regular season drawing to a close, all eyes are fixed on whether Preece can once again rise to the occasion, leveraging past triumphs—most memorably his Iowa breakthrough—to carve out a new chapter in his career. Carl Edwards’ surprise exit remains a seminal point in this narrative; it’s a reminder that one person’s ending can be another’s hopeful new beginning in the world of motorsport. The coming races will reveal if Preece can turn inspiration into victory, cementing his place among NASCAR’s best comeback stories and keeping his playoff dreams alive.
