The Chrome Horn News

9/17/2008

RYAN PREECE, DRIVER OF OLD BLUE #3
By Dave Meredith

   When school started this fall, Ryan Preece from Kensington, CT, began his senior year at Xavier High School in Berlin, CT. At the same time, he was eleventh in the point standings in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The Preece family has supported Ryan throughout his racing career since he started racing in quarter midgets at the age of seven. Dad Jeff, and Mom Jodi, as well as brothers Sean and Matthew, have all supported him and been involved in racing for a while.
   In interviewing Ryan, I came away with a sense of a young man who wants to race, but who also knows the value of an education. He stated that he wasn’t sure where he was going to continue his education. He is trying to decide whether to choose a business degree or technical training. I’m sure his parents will help him decide.
   In 2007 Preece Racing ran their own race car. In fifteen starts they had three top-ten finishes and finished 19th in the championship standings. Preece Racing was looking to improve upon their last season’s efforts. In order to do so, they had to seek a joint venture with an existing team.
   As luck would have it, the Boehler racing team was looking for a driver as their pilot of last year, Jerry Marquis, retired from racing opening up the seat in “Ol’ Blue”. It looks like Ryan was a perfect fit for the famed modified.
   Preece just missed a win at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford, CT, when he was disqualified for rough driving when he spun Todd Szegedy on the last lap. He was moved from first to 16th after the officials imposed the penalty.
   In ten races prior to today’s event, he has two top-5’s and ten top-10 finishes. Preece credits his crew chief, Scott Richard, with the improvement in team finishes. He also credits Mike Boehler and the entire Boehler Racing team. “I can say that when you have a great team with you, it is a lot easier to race with confidence.”
   Today, Preece added another top-five finish to his resume when he finished third behind Ted Christopher and Jimmy Blewett. Christopher is the current point leader and by coincidence Ryan moved into the top ten in the championship points. Preece also earned the “PowerAde Power Move of the Race Award” for starting 34th and finishing 3rd, improving 31 Positions in the FJ Hubeny/Reynold's Auto Wrecking Chevrolet.
   Preece moved through the field with care and showed he could handle the 1.051 mile track. He stated, “I try to use my head and not get aggressive so we can have an opportunity to race for the win. If I have a fifth place car, I will try to bring home fifth without damaging the car. I know I will get a win before the season is over. I feel really confident that the team we have is the best.”
   When asked about his racing aspirations and if he wanted to run in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, he said, “That would be one of my goals. I would like to run in the NASCAR Camping World East Series for an event or two. That really depends on our sponsors and the team involved.”
   I asked him, “How did you like the Modified Mania at Thompson, Connecticut,” where he finished in the top 3 in the DART Race of Champions 75-lap event.” (He finished 27th in the Whelen Modified Tour Sunoco 150.) “Would you like to see more of the combined events each season?” He replied, “Yes, I think that was great! It gives drivers a chance to compete against drivers from other series. It lets you gauge yourself against the best in the business.”
   “The sponsors play a major role in our racing operations, and without them we would not be racing. The primary sponsors for the #3 is Reynolds Auto Wrecking and Cape Cod Copper. Additional sponsors include Logan Steel, Mizzy’s Construction, and On Track Karting of Wallingford, CT, (where Ryan works as an instructor with the younger drivers at the facility). He also wanted to thank Davidson Food Products of Cheshire, CT.
   Team members include: Jeff Preece, Jodie Judkins, Ryan’s brothers Matt and Sean, Janice Boehler (car owner), Mike Boehler (car chief), Mike Lucuyer, Rick Lema Jr., Joe Rogers, Bruce Holbrook, Jerry Mycarski, Mike Nero Jr., Mike German, Ian Preece, Mike Sheyde, and Pete Lowe.
   Next up for the young driver is the is the 13th race f the season as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour visits Martinsville, Virginia, on September 20th, 2008 to meet their Southern brothers from the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour for 300 laps of racing. Preece was involved in racing accident in the 2007 Martinsville event. Last year’s event was under the lights, however, this year the modifieds will race during the day to celebrate the 500th Whelen Modified Tour racing event.

THE END

Source:  Dave Meredith
Posted:  September 17, 2008

©2008 GeeLaw Motorsports/Wolf Pack Ventures, Inc.