Ryan Preece Bio
Ryan Jeffrey Preece, born on October 25, 1990, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 60 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RFK Racing. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 154 pounds, Preece has built a reputation as a determined short-track racer who earned his way into NASCAR’s top ranks through the modified ranks of the Northeast.
Over the course of his career, Preece has competed across the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series East, and ARCA Menards Series West. He is also a veteran of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where he captured the series championship in 2013. Preece is widely respected for his work ethic and his willingness to race anywhere, from local Connecticut bullrings to the biggest stages in stock car racing.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Jeffrey Preece was born in Berlin, Connecticut, to parents Jeff and Jodie Preece. He is the youngest of three sons in his family. Growing up in central Connecticut, Preece was surrounded by the region’s deep short-track racing culture, and he began racing at a young age. He attended Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut, graduating in 2009.
His family supported his early racing ambitions, and he spent his formative years competing in go-karts and local stock car divisions around New England. By his mid-teens, Preece was already showing the kind of speed and race craft that would eventually carry him into NASCAR’s national series. His upbringing in a working-class racing community helped shape the blue-collar approach he has brought to every step of his career.
Path to NASCAR
Preece began his racing career in 2007, finishing 32nd in the championship in the Northeastern Midget Association driving for the Bertrand team. The following year, he earned his first podium finish with a third-place result at Monadnock. In 2011, he captured the SK Modified Series championship at Stafford Motor Speedway, the same year his future wife, Heather DesRochers, was the series’ Rookie of the Year.
His success in the modified ranks quickly caught the attention of NASCAR teams. In 2013, Preece made his Xfinity Series debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, finishing 24th for Tommy Baldwin Racing. He continued to develop his skills in the Whelen Modified Tour, finishing as runner-up in 2009 and 2012 before finally winning the championship in 2013 with four wins in 14 races for Flamingo Motorsports. These results established him as one of the top modified talents in the country and opened the door to bigger opportunities in NASCAR’s national series.
Ryan Preece Career
Early Career (2007–2012)
During his early years, Preece focused on building a foundation in the Northeast’s modified and short-track scene. After his 2007 debut in the Northeastern Midget Association, he moved into the Whelen Modified Tour and quickly proved he could compete against the best modified drivers in the country. He finished as runner-up in the series championship in both 2009 and 2012, demonstrating consistency and race-winning speed.
Alongside his Whelen Modified Tour efforts, Preece continued to race at Stafford Motor Speedway in the SK Modified ranks. His 2011 SK Modified championship was a major milestone, marking him as a complete short-track racer capable of winning on a variety of tracks. These developmental years gave him the tools and confidence to take the next step toward NASCAR’s national series.
Whelen Modified Tour Breakthrough (2013)
Preece’s biggest early breakthrough came in 2013, when he won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship. Driving for Flamingo Motorsports, owned by Eric Sanderson, Preece posted four victories across 14 races and finally converted years of strong runs into a title. The championship season cemented his status as one of the premier modified drivers in the country.
He returned to the series in 2014, winning the final two races of the year and finishing second in the final standings. In 2015, he moved to TS Haulers Racing, owned by Ed Partridge, continuing to race at the front of the Whelen Modified Tour field. His success in the series gave him the platform he needed to pursue full-time opportunities in NASCAR’s national touring series.
Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2016–2019)
Preece joined JD Motorsports full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2016, driving the No. 01 Chevrolet with primary sponsorship from Flex Seal. He had several strong runs for the mid-pack organization and narrowly missed the inaugural Xfinity playoffs. In 2017, he moved to Joe Gibbs Racing, where he drove the No. 20 Toyota Camry in select races and earned a career-best second-place finish at New Hampshire behind teammate Kyle Busch.
Later that season at Iowa, Preece won the pole and held off teammate Kyle Benjamin on a late restart to earn his first career Xfinity Series victory. The following year at Bristol, he won again and collected the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus, taking his second career Xfinity win. In 2019, Preece joined JR Motorsports for a part-time Xfinity schedule, finishing all four of his starts in the top ten with a best result of fourth at Pocono. Across his Xfinity career, he posted 2 wins, 21 top-ten finishes, and 1 pole.
Cup Series Debut and JTG Daugherty Era (2015–2021)
Preece made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2015 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, driving the No. 98 for Premium Motorsports in partnership with Tommy Baldwin Racing. He returned for the final four races of the 2015 season and continued running select Cup events in 2018. On September 28, 2018, he was announced as the full-time driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet for JTG Daugherty Racing in 2019, replacing A. J. Allmendinger and competing for Rookie of the Year honors.
After his rookie season, Preece moved to the No. 37 car at JTG Daugherty in 2020, where he recorded his first unofficial Cup pole via a field inversion at Darlington and survived a violent crash at Kansas Speedway. The No. 37 program struggled with funding in 2021, and the team shut down at the end of the season, leaving Preece without a Cup ride. In his Cup career through 2025, he has recorded 0 wins, 32 top-ten finishes, and 2 poles.
Stewart–Haas Racing Era (2022–2024)
On January 6, 2022, Stewart–Haas Racing hired Preece as a reserve driver and simulator driver. That same year, he also ran two Cup races for Rick Ware Racing, three Xfinity races for B. J. McLeod Motorsports, and seven Truck Series races for David Gilliland Racing. He made a major splash at Nashville Superspeedway in 2022, winning his first career Truck Series pole and going on to lead 74 of 150 laps to claim his second career Truck Series victory.
On November 16, 2022, Stewart–Haas Racing announced that Preece would replace Cole Custer in the No. 41 Ford beginning in 2023. He scored his first career Cup pole at Martinsville that year and survived a terrifying airborne crash at Daytona, walking away uninjured. After the 2024 season, Stewart–Haas Racing announced the closure of its NASCAR operations, putting Preece back on the market.
RFK Racing Era (2025–Present)
On November 19, 2024, RFK Racing announced that Preece would drive the No. 60 Ford Mustang Dark Horse full-time beginning in 2025, with Derrick Finley serving as his crew chief. His 2025 season featured several strong runs, including a third-place finish at Las Vegas and a heartbreaking second-place run at Talladega that was later overturned by a disqualification for a spoiler violation. He finished the year 18th in the Cup Series standings.
Preece opened the 2026 season with a major statement, winning the Cook Out Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The momentum was later disrupted when NASCAR penalized him 25 points and fined him $50,000 for intentionally wrecking Ty Gibbs at Texas. Despite the setback, Preece remains a key part of RFK Racing’s driver lineup and continues to chase his first career Cup Series victory.
Driving Style and Strengths
Preece is widely regarded as one of the best short-track racers in the NASCAR garage. His modified background gives him a natural feel for tight, abrasive surfaces, and he excels at managing tire wear and finding speed in dirty air. He is known for being aggressive on restarts and has built a strong rapport with crew chief Derrick Finley at RFK Racing. His experience in modifieds also makes him a strong superspeedway qualifier and a smart pack racer.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Preece’s signature moments are his 2013 Whelen Modified Tour championship, his first Xfinity Series win at Iowa in 2017, and his Dash 4 Cash victory at Bristol in 2018. He also scored a memorable Truck Series win at Nashville in 2022, leading 74 laps from the pole. His walk-away from the violent Daytona crash in 2023 remains one of the most talked-about survival moments in recent NASCAR history.
Ryan Preece Career Wins
Ryan Preece has built a diverse win list across multiple stock car series, with success spanning modifieds, the Xfinity Series, the Craftsman Truck Series, and the ARCA Menards Series West. His versatility behind the wheel of cars ranging from Tour-Type Modifieds to stock cars has made him one of the most well-rounded competitors in the NASCAR ecosystem.
Xfinity Series Highlights
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Preece has recorded 2 career wins, 21 top-ten finishes, and 1 pole. His first victory came in 2017 at Iowa Speedway, where he held off teammate Kyle Benjamin on a late restart. His most recent Xfinity win came at Bristol in 2018, a race he also won alongside the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus. Both wins came in Joe Gibbs Racing equipment.
Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Preece has 2 career wins in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, along with 11 top-ten finishes and 1 pole. His first Truck Series victory came in 2021 at Nashville Superspeedway, where he became only the fifth driver in series history to win in his debut start. He added a second Truck win at Nashville in 2022 after leading 74 laps and winning Stage 2.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the national series, Preece won the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship and claimed three consecutive World Series of Asphalt Tour-Type Modified titles from 2015 to 2017. He also won the ARCA Menards Series West race at Sonoma in 2023, capturing his only ARCA West victory. In addition, Preece won the 2011 Race of Champions and the 2012 and 2014 North-South Shootout, among several other prestigious modified events.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Xfinity) | 2 | 21 | 1 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 2 | 11 | 1 |
| ARCA Menards Series West | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Ryan Preece Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ryan Preece was born to Jeff and Jodie Preece and raised in Berlin, Connecticut, where the family supported his early racing endeavors. He is the youngest of three sons. His Connecticut roots and family encouragement played a key role in launching his racing career at local short tracks across the Northeast.
Personal Life
Preece married his longtime girlfriend, Heather DesRochers, in 2017. DesRochers is also a racing driver and was a participant in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity combine in 2009 and 2010. The couple met at Stafford Motor Speedway in 2009 and competed against each other in the SK Modified Series in 2011. Together they have two children: daughter Rebecca Marie, born in 2023, and son Bentley, born in 2025.
2025 Season Performance
Ryan Preece’s 2025 season marked his first full year with RFK Racing in the No. 60 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, a fresh start after the closure of Stewart–Haas Racing. He quickly found rhythm with crew chief Derrick Finley and posted several strong runs throughout the year, including a career-tying third-place finish at Las Vegas and a runner-up result at Talladega that was later stripped following a post-race disqualification for a spoiler violation.
Despite flashes of front-running speed, Preece finished the 2025 season 18th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, with 0 wins, 32 career top-ten finishes, and 2 career poles to his name. His consistency on intermediates and superspeedways showed progress, and the partnership with RFK Racing gave him the resources he had not had in previous Cup seasons.
Heading into 2026, Preece opened the year with a major victory at the Cook Out Clash, signaling that the program is trending in the right direction. While a 25-point penalty and $50,000 fine at Texas slowed his early-season momentum, the 35-year-old remains focused on capturing his first career Cup Series win and continuing to build his legacy in the NASCAR garage.
