Stewart-Haas Racing Finds NASCAR Diamond in the Rough in Ryan Preece

• Former JTG-Daugherty Racing driver Ryan Preece was able to hold on for an impressive seventh-place finish in his debut for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Busch Light Clash.

• “I’m hoping that we can use this as a good start, go to the (Daytona) 500 and win that one and get ourselves in the Playoffs,” Preece said. “And then try to win some more.

• Ryan Truex Jr. won Sunday night's race, which was a non-points exhibition.

Ryan Preece made quite a statement in his first race for Stewart-Haas Racing Sunday night.

The 32-year-old journeyman driver who formally raced full time for JTG-Daugherty Racing in the NASCAR Cup series for three seasons before being released following the 2021 season, moved to Stewart-Haas and after spending 2022 as a reserve driver for the team was tapped to take over the No. 41 SHR Ford starting this season.

His first SHR outing came Sunday in NASCAR’s Busch Light Clash at the L.A. Coliseum. After a fourth-place finish in his heat race, Preece started the main event 16th and made a strong run during the second half of the 150-lap race, taking the lead on Lap 83 from Bubba Wallace.

From that point, Preece would take command of the race pulling out to a comfortable lead and seemed to be in position to score a win in his first outing with the team. But a mechanical issue slowed him on lap 125 and he was forced to give up the lead. Preece was able to hold on for a still impressive seventh-place finish.

Preece said the fuel pump was the cause of his slowdown.

“The primary pump went bad,” he said. “I don’t know. I don’t think we were close on fuel. At first, I thought it was ignition because usually when it’s fuel it just keeps cutting, so I shut off my alternator and all of my electrical stuff and it seemed to help a little bit. It did it again and I lost four spots, so I just flipped the switch and a miracle happened.

“Ultimately, this car was so badass. It was so fast. We drove from 16th outside, inside, everything it took. I’m proud of the speed. I’m happy for the opportunity, but it sucks giving them away.”

The race featured 16 cautions, 12 of those coming after halftime (the race came to a full stop after 75 laps and the fans were entertained by music artist Wiz Khalifa), and each time Preece was able to keep his lead on the restart.

“That just comes from, first off, my grassroots experience, just working hard and just having a fast race car,” he said. “Chad (crew chief Chad Johnson) we’re a new team but we’ve already got a year-and-a-half experience together and knowing lingo. If it’s off, I’ll let him know it, but if it’s that close, he’ll go with his gut.”

Preece admitted however, that he knew when his hopes for a win were over when eventual race winner Martin Truex Jr. ran him down.

“I don’t know if it was with 30 to go, but five laps before he caught me it was the fuel pump going bad,” he said. “I mean, what are you going to do? You’re a sitting duck. This is a motor racetrack. It’s two drag strips and when you lose all the power, you’re just a sitting duck.”

Preece was able to look at a very positive start to his first full-time season with SHR.

“I’m hoping that we can use this as a good start, go to the 500 and win that one and get ourselves in the Playoffs,” he said. “And then try to win some more.”