Ryan Preece will get his chance to compete in a top-tier NASCAR Cup Series ride as he’ll move to Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 41 entry for the 2023 season. Years of hard work have finally paid off for Preece.
Relentless racer. @RyanPreece_ is ready to do whatever it takes as the wheelman of the No. 41 Ford Mustang. pic.twitter.com/EcC5SkrEM7
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) November 16, 2022
“This is the opportunity I’ve been working for,” Preece said in a team press release. “Nothing was guaranteed at the start of this year, but I felt like if I put in the time, whether it was in a racecar or in a simulator, that SHR was the place for me. It’s a company built by racers, for racers, and it’s exactly where I want to be.
“I know this season just finished and most people are looking to take a break, but I can’t wait to get going.”
The 32-year-old driver spent the 2022 season as a background aid for the Stewart-Haas Racing team as he performed as a simulator driver for the team in addition to competing across the three NASCAR National Series in a part-time capacity.
For SHR, Preece has been a major addition to their team, and Tony Stewart feels Preece is ready for his big break.
“Ryan Preece has been a real asset to our race team this year as we’ve developed the NextGen car. The time and effort he’s put into our program, combined with his real-world racing experience, earned him this opportunity,” said Tony Stewart, co-owner of SHR with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas.
A native of Berlin, Connecticut, Preece has 115 starts in NASCAR Cup Series competition with two top-five finishes and nine top-10s. Preece has racked up four wins between the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, including a win in NCWTS competition this season at Nashville Superspeedway.
Preece is the latest official announcement for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. To keep up with all of the official moves for 2023 check out TobyChristie.com’s 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Driver / Team Chart:
While Preece will move forward to the No. 41 Ford Mustang for the full 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, Cole Custer will be moved back to the organization’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program.
Custer, the 10-time NASCAR Xfinity Series winner, will join Riley Herbst — officially announced as returning to SHR on Tuesday — as a teammate.
“Cole Custer has been a part of SHR since 2017 and we’re glad to have him stay with us,” Stewart said. “Cole’s experience will be invaluable to Riley Herbst as he continues his development in the Xfinity Series.”
To keep up with all of the latest moves in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2023, check the TobyChristie.com 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver / Team Chart:
