Ryan Preece, currently the only Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) driver without a confirmed seat for the 2024 NASCAR season, faces an uncertain future in the sport. At 33, he is in a precarious position as SHR plans to close its operations by the end of 2024, leaving Preece and five other drivers in search of new teams.
SHR currently runs four cars in the Cup Series and two in the Xfinity Series.Noah Gragson, Josh Berry, and Chase Briscoe have secured their spots for the 2025 Cup Series, while Cole Custer from SHR’s Xfinity team has moved up to the newly-formed Haas Factory Team, managed by Gene Haas.
In a recent social media update, Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Preece’s future, noting that while he is likely to stay in one of NASCAR’s three national series, his exact placement is still unknown.Before his stint with SHR, Preece had a brief run with Rick Ware Racing (RWR) in the No. 15 car.
Currently, RWR runs two cars, with Justin Haley driving the #51 full-time and several part-time drivers sharing the #15 Ford. If Preece can secure full-time sponsorship, he could be a strong candidate for a spot with RWR, especially given the team’s use of part-time drivers and Kaz Grala as their mainstay.After the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NASCAR takes a two-week break before returning for the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11.
During this break, Ryan Preece plans to step away from the racing spotlight.In his second full-time season with SHR, Preece has achieved one top-5 and two top-10 finishes in 22 starts, placing him 26th in the overall standings with 329 points.
Following a third DNF at Indianapolis and an exhausting season, Preece shared his plans for the two-week hiatus during the Paris Olympics. He said:”During the Olympic break, I’m heading back to Connecticut. We’ll visit family during the first week, and in the second week, we’re going to the Outer Banks.”Preece, a Connecticut native, revealed that he and his wife, Heather DesRochers, haven’t taken a vacation in over eight years and are looking forward to this opportunity to disconnect.
This break comes at a crucial time as the drivers and teams gear up for the 2024 NASCAR playoffs.
