Ryan Preece could be the odd man out in NASCAR free agency

With Stewart-Haas Racing shutting down on the finish of the 2024 season, all 4 of their Cup Collection drivers will want a brand new residence. Whereas three of their drivers could have choices, Ryan Preece could possibly be kicked to the curb.

Josh Berry is rumored to presumably fill a seat at Entrance Row Motorsports, whereas Chase Briscoe is the highest candidate to switch Martin Truex Jr. at Joe Gibbs Racing. 

Noah Gragson has had many rumors fly throughout the storage pertaining to his future, nevertheless it appears Richard Childress Racing could possibly be a possible residence for him. 

This leaves the 33 year-old Preece because the potential odd man out of the NASCAR Cup Collection in 2025. Whereas Berry and Gragson are additionally winless within the Cup Collection, Preece presently sits twenty seventh in Cup Collection factors via the primary 17 races of 2024, the worst of the 4 SHR drivers. 

In 2023, Preece’s first 12 months with Stewart-Haas, he completed a middling twenty third in factors, solely amassing two top-10 finishes. In 5 full-time seasons — together with the primary 17 occasions of this season — Preece solely has 12 top-10 finishes throughout 161 begins within the Cup Collection. 

His greatest factors end got here within the aforementioned 2023 season, and with the very best Cup Collection alternative of the 12 months — albeit with a regressing Stewart-Haas group — he has failed to fulfill each his expectations and the efficiency of his teammates. 

Preece is definitely a proficient racecar driver, however with simply two wins every within the Truck and Xfinity Collection, it would not appear he has endurance within the Cup Collection. The query for Preece now turns into whether or not or not a high Xfinity or Truck Collection group can be keen to select him up.

If a possibility within the Xfinity or Truck Collection would not open up, Preece will probably have a seat heat for him within the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, a sequence Preece routinely dominates in his restricted begins. 

Preece has cranked up his engine for 173 Modified Tour races, and has received 26 of them – an above common successful proportion of 15%. He is additionally collected 82 top-fives and 111 top-10’s over his begins within the Modified Tour, and whereas he’d probably be dissatisfied to drop out of the highest three sequence, returning to a circuit the place you are a champion can be a great way to spice up Preece’s confidence earlier than making one other run to the highest. 

Preece’s 2025 plans are unknown, however he can be clever to deal with the ultimate 19 Cup Collection weekends of 2024 as audition tapes for a future that appears rockier than ever.