Ryan Preece gambled with his racing career and Won!

Short track racer, Ryan Preece has made it in NASCAR after spending every penny

He started racing at age 6. Now, Ryan Preece has won his first NASCAR Xfinity Series event. It’s not his first year in the NXS. In fact, he made his first start in 2013.

In 2016, he ran full-time with the series. He only collected one top-10. This year, Ryan Preece came into the season with a different strategy. He quit his ride and stated, “I need to be somewhere I can win.”

He took a gamble with his racing career. He bet everything he had just to place himself on the starting grid.

Ryan Preece purchased his ride with Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2017 season. That’s just how good NASCAR seats become available these days, young drivers buy an opening.

Related: Tim McCreadie: “I’m a professional racer driver. So, I’m not going to pay to drive a car.”

Ryan Preece NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Ryan Preece Modified

At the start of this season, Ryan Preece the regular NASCAR Whelen Modified tour competitor had options. He could buy a regular seat. More starts but with a much smaller team. Something he already tried in 2016. Or, plan B, he could bet everything he had on just two races with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Preece optioned on the bigger, better team of Joe Gibbs Racing. However, he had enough funds for just two starts. He had two shots to preform and prove himself as a professional NASCAR driver.

The first start came at a familiar track. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Series driver selected New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He finished 2nd.

Today, was race 2 of 2. His last shot to get it done. As the team unloaded at Iowa Speedway, he realized he forgot his racing shoes. He borrowed a credit card and purchased a new pair, then took the pole.

Today, he won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. Ryan Preece fought a battle at Iowa Speedway. In the end, he was side-by-side with Kyle Benjamin at the line. Preece took the win. A near miracle, the gamble had paid off.

Related: Iowa Speedway Results – July 29, 2017

How does he feel?

Ryan Preece wins NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway
NEWTON, IA – JULY 29: Ryan Preece, driver of the #20 MoHawk Northeast Inc. Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series US Cellular 250 Presented by American Ethanol at Iowa Speedway on July 29, 2017 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

Ryan Preece from victory lane, “I don’t even know what to say. I gotta thank everybody.”

“I’m so lost for words right now. I don’t even know what to say. This is what emotion is, I can tell you that.”

“I thought this race would never end. That’s for sure.”

In a previous life, Ryan Preece has won 17 races in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. It only took him 137 races to get there. A win percentage over 10%.

Links

Ryan Preece
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Iowa Speedway
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NASCAR
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Shane Walters
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