LOUDESTON, N.H. – With the NASCAR Cup Series championship race approaching, driver Ryan Preece is turning the attention of his hometown crowd into a competitive advantage. The 35‑year‑old Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing driver sits 50 points behind Shane van Gisbergen for the final spot in the season‑ending Chase, a 10‑race playoff that determines the series champion.
Local crew, local track
Preece, a native of Berlin, Connecticut, has spent the week racing in New England’s Modified Series, including a Saturday event at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His family‑owned team, Ryan Preece Motorsports, fields a crew of locals—some with nicknames like “John the Plumber”—who have worked with him since his teenage years. “We have nicknames for each and every one of them,” Preece said. “It’s an opportunity to race with guys that I’ve known forever. They just enjoy racing and having some fun.”
Why New Hampshire matters
The 1.058‑mile oval, known locally as “The Magic Mile,” is a track where Preece feels at home. He has logged 40 NASCAR starts there, compared with van Gisbergen’s two starts on the oval. “When I go to New Hampshire I feel like I’m racing my own people,” Preece explained. “I’ve been racing here since I was 16 years old.” His best finish at the venue came in 2021 with a last‑lap Modified Series victory, and he hopes to add a Cup Series win to that memory.
Chase implications
With two regular‑season races remaining, every point is critical. Preece finished 17th at Richmond Raceway last week, falling an additional 21 points in the Chase standings. Ford drivers dominated New Hampshire last season, leading 275 of 301 laps and capturing three of the top four finishing positions. Preece believes his familiarity with the track gives him a chance to close the gap.
Other contenders
Defending race winner Ryan Blaney will receive a 20‑pound lobster trophy on Sunday, a tradition started by teammate Joey Logano in 2009. Logano said the lobster on a plaque has become a conversation starter for fans visiting his home. Christopher Bell, who has won two of the past four Cup races at New Hampshire, noted that a second off‑week this season has helped his team feel refreshed after a grueling 27‑race stretch last year.
Odds and outlook
Betting odds list Blaney as the favorite for Sunday’s race, followed closely by Logano and Bell. While Preece is not among the top three, his local knowledge and the support of a hometown crew could make the difference in a tight points battle for the final Chase berth.
As the weekend unfolds, fans in Loudon and across New England will be watching to see if Preece’s New England roots translate into the performance needed to keep his championship hopes alive.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
