Its all new things for Ryan Preece in 2025! From his team switch to family life, it seems like he is moving into a whole new journey. But beyond the race tracks and roaring engines, Ryan is getting ready for a different kind of thrill. But what could be more thrilling than picking up a season cup or pulling off a daring overtake at 200 miles per hour?
For Preece, the answer is simple — it’s the joy of growing his family. That’s right, the NASCAR Cup Series driver recently shared some heartwarming news that has his fans cheering for a very different reason.
In his latest Instagram post, Preece announced that he and his wife, Heather, are expecting their second child — a baby boy. Their daughter, Rebecca Marie, who already lights up their world, will soon be a big sister. “Looking forward to Rebecca having a baby brother ,” Preece wrote in the caption, tagging Heather and making the news official. His daughter sat smiling on a ledge, overwhelmed with emotion as she would get a new best friend in just a few months. And the Preece family weren’t alone in celebrating the news. Even his team joined in, writing, “The world is getting a mini Ryan Preece LEGGO!” in the comments section.
For the happy couple, ever since getting married back in 2017, raising a family has been one of the things that has been a goal. This new chapter of his life certainly adds a layer of joy to what’s already been an emotionally charged start to Preece’s 2025 NASCAR season. Just days ago, during the closing laps of the Daytona 500, the No. 60 Ford Mustang driver was involved in a terrifying wreck. His car went airborne after contact with Christopher Bell’s No. 20 machine, flipped through the air, then skidded on its roof before slamming into the wall.
“All I thought about was my daughter,” were Preece’s words when he talked about the incident with a Fox reporter. And this is not the first time that he has emphasized the duties of being a parent. This is, in fact, the second time Preece has flipped at Daytona, with a similar crash occurring in 2023, and Heather feels terrified every time Preece gets into danger on the track. “I couldn’t help but think it wouldn’t happen twice,” she explained.“Everything flashed through my head—what life would look like if he were to be gone.”
Luckily, Preece was unharmed, so he made sure to send the message that his child was his priority. Speaking to Frontstretch after the race, he added, “We know where there’s a problem at Superspeedways. I don’t want to be the example when it finally gets somebody. I got a two-year-old daughter, and just like a lot of us, we have families.”
And while his daughter in still young, Preece isn’t averse to letting her follow the athlete’s life. “It doesn’t scare me. If that’s the path she wants to take, I’m going to support it. But I’m certainly not going to push it on her because I know the struggles and the commitment that it takes to go down this path.” Perhaps his second child also might follow in his footsteps.
A new chapter – both on and off-track
The 2025 Season will be an interesting journey for Ryan given his last two years with Stewart-Haas Racing, where he managed only 2 top-5 finishes and a total of 11 top-10s across 72 starts. Now that he’s here at RFK Racing, he has many things to prove. The father-to-be will be driving behind the wheel of the No. 60 Ford Mustang, RFK’s ambitious third charter entry, joining forces with co-owner Brad Keselowski and fellow teammate Chris Buescher.
Last year, Preece finished 26th in the overall standings, a dip from his promising early Cup career. Across five full-time seasons in the Cup Series, he’s still seeking his first win — with only four top-5 finishes and 15 top-10s to his name in over 140 starts. With a new crew chief in veteran Derrick Finley and sponsor support from Kroger Racing and Mohawk Northeast, Preece enters the 2025 campaign with fresh hope.
Making the RFK charter count, Preece is not just surviving — he’s thriving. A string of top-10 finishes — third at Las Vegas, ninth at Homestead-Miami, and seventh at Martinsville — has fans and analysts reconsidering his ceiling. Speaking on this, Preece credited his new crew chief, Derrick Finley, “I’ll give him a lot of credit… teaching and instilling this mindset in guys that haven’t ever had the opportunity to race for wins, and telling them to expect to try and win every given Sunday.”
On the home front of things, Preece has a joyful place to come back to at the end of every stressful day. Life off the track is certainly going to be a joy ride for him.
What are your thoughts on Ryan Preece’s 2025 campaign so far? Share your thoughts with us in the comment box below.
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