Racing for Fun: Preece Tests Cars Beyond the Cup

Ryan Preece won a local race and is not stopping. Instead of focusing on the big Daytona 500, he’s planning to drive two types of cars at once – Super Late Models and Modifieds. He says he loves tinkering with the cars more than just racing them. During a recent event at New Smyrna Speedway, Preece talked about his plan. He said he usually drives cars with fenders and likes the “science experiment” feel of the Super Late Model. The Modifieds have no set rules for how high they sit, so he can play around with bump stops and other parts to see what works best. The driver, 35, still feels like a kid when he’s on the track. He remembers watching big races and dreaming of driving those cars. He spent last year building a car for the Derby but couldn’t race because he didn’t have enough tires. Now, with Speedweeks coming up, he wants to learn more about how these cars behave.Preece sees racing in smaller events as a chance to grow. “If it doesn’t go well one night, you can try again the next day, ” he says. “You don’t have to wait a whole week. ” He thinks this helps him get better fast and understand what makes the cars go faster. He has raced in NASCAR for years but only won his first Cup race at Bowman Gray Stadium. The win felt hard because the track was crowded and the weather was tricky. Preece said it mattered more than anyone could see on TV. He felt proud to finish a goal he had worked toward for years. Now that the win is behind him, Preece wants to keep the momentum. He plans to use his new knowledge and experience to compete for a spot in the 2026 NASCAR Chase. Fans are curious whether he can keep his winning streak going.