NASCAR Cup
Preece after Clash showing: "It sucks giving them away"
Ryan Preece impressed many in his first start behind the wheel of the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, but misfortune denied him what could have been a career-defining victory.
Nick DeGroot
Published: Feb 7, 2023, 5:20 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Preece returns to full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition with as the newest driver at Stewart-Haas Racing.
The 32-year-old was off to a strong start in the Los Angeles exhibition race, leading more laps than any other driver in the main event. He drove from 16th on the grid to the front of the field, and was one of the few able to make passes on the outside.
But after leading a race-high 43 laps, it all went wrong in the closing stages of the race. A fuel pump issue cost him several positions, becoming a "sitting duck" once the issue arose. Although he still brought home a seventh-place finish, all his thoughts remained on what could have been.
"The primary (fuel) pump went bad," he explained post-race. "I don’t know. I don’t think we were close on fuel. At first, I thought it was ignition because usually when it’s fuel it just keeps cutting, so I shut off my alternator and all of my electrical stuff and it seemed to help a little bit. It did it again and I lost four spots, so I just flipped the switch and a miracle happened. Ultimately, this car was so badass. It was so fast. We drove from 16th outside, inside, everything it took. I’m proud of the speed. I’m happy for the opportunity, but it sucks giving them away.”
Ryan Preece, Stewart Haas Racing, United Rentals Ford
Photo by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Images
Preece is no stranger to the tight, aggressive racing that short ovals always tend to produce. His past experience as a highly successful Modified driver proved valuable on Sunday. He was especially strong on restarts, never passing up an opportunity to gain track position.
“That just comes from, first off, my grassroots experience, just working hard and just having a fast race car," he said. "(Crew chief) Chad (Johnston) and I, we’re a new team but we’ve already got a year-and-a-half experience together and knowing lingo. If it’s off, I’ll let him know it, but if it’s that close, he’ll go with his gut. I’m hoping that we can use this as a good start, go to the 500 and win that one and get ourselves in the Playoffs and then try to win some more.”
The 2023 season is just around the corner, and with the best ride of his career, it should be no surprise if Preece finds Victory Lane this year. He has 115 previous starts at the Cup level, but remains winless ... for now.
Read Also:
- FRM's double DNF in the Clash due to running out of fuel
- Truex out to 'prove everyone wrong' in 2023 NASCAR season
- Kyle Busch: 2023 Clash featured "disrespect from everybody"
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article FRM confirms third Daytona 500 entry and driver lineup shake-up
Next article NASCAR says Ty Gibbs car fire an "isolated incident"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Nick DeGroot
WSJ Report: NASCAR is building 80+ race cars for Days of Thunder sequel
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup 1 h
WSJ Report: NASCAR is building 80+ race cars for Days of Thunder sequel
Brennan Poole to leave Alpha Prime Racing; team owners 'disappointed' to see him go
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
Charlotte II
11 h
Brennan Poole to leave Alpha Prime Racing; team owners 'disappointed' to see him go
9/11 after 25 years: How NASCAR went back racing following September 11 attacks
Feature
NASCAR Cup
Feature
NASCAR Cup
9/11 after 25 years: How NASCAR went back racing following September 11 attacks
Latest news
WSJ Report: NASCAR is building 80+ race cars for Days of Thunder sequel
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 h
WSJ Report: NASCAR is building 80+ race cars for Days of Thunder sequel
Brennan Poole to leave Alpha Prime Racing; team owners 'disappointed' to see him go
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Charlotte II
11 h
Brennan Poole to leave Alpha Prime Racing; team owners 'disappointed' to see him go
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
12 h
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Winners and losers from NASCAR Cup at Charlotte after dramatic finish
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
15 h
Winners and losers from NASCAR Cup at Charlotte after dramatic finish
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe