NASCAR: 5 drivers who have underperformed so far in 2020
By Konner Metz
Underperforming drivers in 2020: #5 – Ryan Preece
The driver of the #37 JTG Daugherty Chevrolet has not shown signs of significant improvement from his lackluster rookie season in 2019. Last year, Ryan Preece only notched three top 10 finishes and was clearly a step behind then-teammate Chris Buescher in speed.
This season, with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as his new veteran teammate, Preece has failed to deliver any impressive results aside from a top 20 finish in the first race at Darlington Raceway, when he was able to grab three stage points and show some decent pace.
Over the past four races, Preece has not backed up the speed he showed at Darlington Raceway, despite his 12th place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway. While JTG Daugherty Racing are certainly no powerhouse, it is concerning to see the Cup Series sophomore unable to come close to matching his teammate’s results.
He has not had one race in which his Driver Rating exceeded 70, compared to Stenhouse’s three races of that variety. Stenhouse’s count does not even include his strong showing at Bristol Motor Speedway before wrecking out.
Sitting behind the likes of Ty Dillon and Corey LaJoie is not where Preece needs to be if he wants to prove that he is Cup level material and is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
However, considering his lack of Cup Series experience and the team for which he is driving, the 29-year old is in no way a certified bust. Three quarters of the 2020 season still lie ahead. But if he is unable to show clear improvement over 2019, his chances to stick around may be dwindling.