Brad Keselowski’s Driver Shares Hard-Earned Advice for NASCAR Dreamers

Ryan Preece returned to his hometown of Berlin, Connecticut, with a clear message for aspiring racers. The RFK Racing driver, who cut his teeth on local tracks, shared hard-earned advice for fans dreaming of a career in NASCAR.

“I don’t feel like I’d be the racer I am or the person I am today if I weren’t racing here,” he said.

Preece credits his racing history in Connecticut for his success. He started back in the early 2000s, racking up over 150 wins at the Silver City Speedway and winning multiple junior championships in the midget series. Those moments taught him a lot of things he knows about racing.

“As a racer that grew up racing on the wheel of a modified tour, there were a lot of lessons that I learned along the way before I got here. How aggressive to be and not to be, and the level of respect that you have to be.”

In the decade that followed, Preece drove in multiple series, including Whelen Modifieds and even the Race of Champions! It wasn’t until 2013 that he found his first start in the Nationwide Series at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. But even after that, he raced in the NASCAR Modified series for a couple of years before graduating to the Xfinity Series in 2018. That’s why Preece added:

For the younger crowd who would want a career in NASCAR, Preece said, “Don’t listen to somebody if they have an opinion of what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. If it’s your dream, chase after it.”

But even then, his love for Connecticut isn’t lost.

Ryan Preece Returns Home For a Special Reason

Tavern on the Trax is a favorite stop for Preece, who drives the #60 Ford for Brad Keselowski’s RKF Racing. “Whenever I come here, this is outside of me going to my father’s house and working in the shop. This is the place that I consider where you meet all your friends,” said Preece.

With the drivers having some downtime between the last race in Martinsville on March 30 and the next one at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 13, RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece visited local pub Tavern on the Trax and found himself interacting with fans, signing autographs, and taking pictures, all while serving up drinks. 

With seven races done, each of the three RFK Racing drivers is in solid standing to make the cut for the Chase. Heading into the Food City 500, Preece is the lowest-ranked RFK driver.

Preece is 13th with 180 points, just 26 points off both Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher in 8th and 10th, respectively. With 19 races to go, even though RFK hasn’t registered a win yet, all three drivers will be optimistic for a place in the Chase.