With JTG Daugherty Racing downsizing to one car for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, Ryan Preece is expected to be without a ride. Here are three possible options for him in 2022.
With JTG Daugherty Racing’s confirmation that they will run only one car in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, Ryan Preece will likely be the odd man out at the Harrisburg, North Carolina-based team.
JTG Daugherty Racing have run the entire 2021 season without a charter for Preece’s #37 Chevrolet. The team’s #47 Chevrolet, however, does have a charter.
When asked about the downsizing of the team, JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner Brad Daugherty said that they “want to be a really strong one-car race company”. With only one chartered car, Preece will seemingly be pushed out of the soon-to-be defunct #37 Chevrolet.
While the Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway shouldn’t be Preece’s last ride in a NASCAR touring series, it will leave him without a ride going into the following season, much like Wood Brothers Racing’s Matt DiBenedetto and Roush Fenway Racing’s Ryan Newman.
With his future uncertain, here are three possible landing spots for Preece in 2022.
Possible landing spot for 2022 No. 1 – Xfinity Series
If Preece can’t find a ride in the Cup Series, the Xfinity Series is his best option. Preece ran his lone full-time Xfinity Series season for JD Motorsports in 2016 and finished in 17th place in the championship standings. However, he is a former winner in the series from when he competed part-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017 and 2018.
Wins at Iowa Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway could be enough to convince a team to sign Preece, even if it’s for just a partial schedule. There are plenty of Xfinity Series teams without plans fully made yet for next year.
In addition to his wins, Preece has 12 top five finishes and seven additional top 10 results. Stats such as these would be more than enough to compete for an Xfinity Series title in a top-tier ride should he able to find one with a full-time schedule. If not, even a lower-tier team could elect to sign the 30-year-old.
Though his Cup Series stats aren’t anything to write home about, his ride in the Cup Series is by no means a top-tier ride. But another go in the series where he formally raced could provide the resurgence that the Berlin, Connecticut native needs.
Possible landing spot No. 2 – Truck Series
Ryan Preece’s short time spent in the NASCAR Truck Series has been interesting, to say the least. He debuted this year with David Gilliland Racing and won in his first start at Nashville Superspeedway, beating out ThorSport Racing’s Grant Enfinger in the closing laps to take the checkered flag.
In doing so, he became the just the fifth driver to win in his Truck Series debut, and he noted how “super proud” he was just to receive the opportunity to compete in the Truck Series and that such opportunities don’t come often.
Preece followed up his win at Nashville Superspeedway with another strong finish at Pocono Raceway, where he finished in ninth place. To date, these are Preece’s only two Truck Series starts, but an average finish of fifth with a win should make strong first impression.
A full-time ride with David Gilliland Racing would make the most sense, as the results speak for themselves. But like there are in the Xfinity Series, there are plenty of pieces still to be moved in the upcoming offseason, so Preece may have to wait a little bit longer in this scenario to see if he has a future in the series.
Possible landing spot No. 3 – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Ryan Preece is no stranger to the NASCAR Whelen Modfied Tour, having won the series championship in 2013. If he can’t land a ride in any of the three NASCAR national series, he could add to his trophy case by going back to his roots.
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While this is a wild card scenario, it’s not too far-fetched of an idea for the 30-year-old to go back where he started. Like he has done in Truck Series, he has competed in a few Whelen Modified Tour events this year. What’s even more impressive is the fact that he has won twice and earned two pole positions.
Preece’s first win this season came after a last-lap pass at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and he followed up this victory by winning at Stafford Motor Speedway.
Preece’s results have shown that he can not only race but win in the Whelen Modified Tour, and this option would allow him to continue pursuing a racing career. It is entirely possible that an Xfinity Series deal or a Truck Series deal could work out. but if neither one is meant to be, the Whelen Modified Tour could be a solid, safe bet.