[autotag]Ryan Preece[/autotag] finally received an opportunity in good NASCAR Cup Series equipment and had a disappointing season. Preece finished the year with one top-5 finish and two top-10 finishes, which is surprisingly down compared to his last full-time campaign with JTG Daugherty Racing. The driver of the No. 41 car missed the playoffs and finished 23rd in the point standings.
It was undoubtedly a very disappointing year for Preece, who expected much more with Stewart-Haas Racing. The one positive is that he did show enough speed to win one race at Martinsville Speedway before a penalty. Preece closed the campaign with 149 laps led (18th-best) and a 20.8 average finishing position (26th-best); however, where did it go wrong for him?
Ryan Preece leads all 80 laps to capture the opening stage at Martinsville. pic.twitter.com/iuxtITCALT
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 16, 2023
The Stewart-Haas Racing driver’s start to the 2023 NASCAR season was pretty miserable. Preece didn’t earn his first top-10 finish until the 22nd race of the season at Richmond Raceway and only had six top-15 finishes in that stretch. The playoff featured a little bit more sustained success, but Preece needs to carry that into the 2024 season.
Preece will get another opportunity at Stewart-Haas Racing, but it is crucial for him to run really well. He and Chase Briscoe are the two “veterans” at Stewart-Haas Racing following Kevin Harvick’s and Aric Almirola’s departures. Therefore, it is really important that Preece improves his performance going into next year.
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