Ryan Preece will replace Cole Custer in the #41 Ford beginning in 2023, Stewart-Haas Racing announced. Custer will race full-time for Stewart-Haas in Xfinity.
Preece's journey was unusual. Modified short track ace Preece attempted NASCAR at 22 with underfunded Xfinity teams.
Preece took out a loan to support two Xfinity races with Joe Gibbs Racing. Preece finished second and won in the races with top equipment.
That won him two more races that season, placing fourth and fifth, and a contract for 15 races the next year before Cup Series racing in 2019.
When JTG-Daugherty Racing went to a single vehicle, Preece was the odd man out. Preece joined Stewart-Haas as their simulator test driver and ran Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series events
Preece's patience paid off as he's back in Cup full-time. Will this be as successful as his first Xfinity chance? Unknown. I'm sure Preece can't wait to drive the #41 in 2023.V