Tony Stewart’s Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) was once a dominant force in NASCAR, fielding championship-caliber cars and winning multiple titles. The first came in 2011 with Tony Stewart as an owner-driver and the second in 2014 with Kevin Harvick driving for the team. However, the team’s fortunes declined in recent years, culminating in the shocking announcement that SHR would shutter its NASCAR operations at the end of 2024. This left its drivers, including Ryan Preece, scrambling to secure their futures.
Preece, often regarded as one of NASCAR’s most resilient competitors, reflected on a day that saw him capitalize on chaos and turn his fortunes around at Vegas. Preece endured a tough 2024 with the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing, with more DNFs (4) than top-5 finishes (1). However, after a 3rd place finish at Las Vegas, Preece reflected on how his luck turned and revealed a humorous promise he made to race winner Josh Berry before the season started.
Ryan Preece grabs opportunity with open hands
For Ryan Preece, his post-race interview at the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas was a moment of reflection and gratitude. He had faced challenges throughout the race’s early stages, struggling to find momentum as he navigated difficult restarts. However, a key restart at the end of Stage 2 allowed Preece to surge from 20th to 11th place—a turning point that set him up for a strong third-place finish.
“The first half of the race seemed like whatever lane I picked didn’t go my way,” he admitted during his interview. “At the end of Stage 2 on that last restart I went from 20th to 11th and then we just never lost track position from there on out,” Preece told FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass after the race. This was his best finish in the 2025 season and his career-best finish in the Cup as well.
Ryan Preece entered Vegas feeling he had a chance at a strong finish. He was right. He finished third. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/d67mxUymGT
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 17, 2025
Ryan Preece’s journey to this point has not been without its setbacks. After being signed as a reserve driver for Stewart-Haas Racing, Preece faced uncertainty when SHR announced its departure from NASCAR at the end of 2024. This left him without a confirmed ride for the 2025 season. Undoubtedly, a precarious position for any driver.
However, Preece found redemption when RFK Racing offered him a full-time seat in the No. 60 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Reflecting on his performance at Las Vegas, Preece expressed gratitude for his team’s execution and strategy: “Grateful for a great day of execution, great calls, and executing on restarts. That’s what matters.”
Preece also highlighted his camaraderie with fellow drivers during his interview, mentioning Josh Berry’s breakthrough win at Las Vegas. “We said to each other before the season started that if he won or I won, we’re going to go drinking beer with each other,” Preece shared with a smile. Despite his New Year’s resolution to avoid alcohol, Preece joked that Berry’s victory might prompt him to break it.
The hard work behind Josh Berry’s historic win
Ultimately, Ryan Preece’s performance at Las Vegas serves as a reminder of his resilience and ability to seize opportunities when they arise. From being discarded by one team to finding success with another, Preece has proven that setbacks can be stepping stones to greater achievements. Meanwhile, Josh Berry proved his worth in a car which was struggling to find form last season.
Driving for Wood Brothers Racing, Berry showcased his talent by holding off strong competitors like Joey Logano and Daniel Suarez in the closing laps. This victory marked a significant milestone for WBR, as they clinched their 101st win in the Cup Series. Although this was only their 2nd win since Ryan Blaney’s triumph in Pocono in 2017, highlighting a difficult period, which looks to be coming to an end in 2025.
Berry’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. He spent years competing in late models before earning an opportunity with JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series. There, he proved his worth by winning multiple races and establishing himself as one of NASCAR’s most consistent drivers. His success eventually led to a full-time Cup ride with Wood Brothers Racing in 2025—a team with a storied history but limited recent success.
After his win, Berry reflected on what it meant to him and his team. “Vegas has been so good to me. I’ve had so many great moments here… This entire 21 team, everyone at Wood Brothers Racing, provided me with a fantastic car today. They (Team Penske) welcomed me with open arms and tried to accelerate my learning process as much as possible,” he said. The victory not only validated Berry’s talent but also breathed new life into Wood Brothers Racing, which had not won a race since Harrison Burton’s shock win at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 last year.
For both Berry and Preece, Las Vegas was a weekend of redemption and celebration. While Berry reached Victory Lane for the first time, Preece proved that he could still compete at the highest level after being overlooked by SHR. Their mutual respect and friendship underscore the tight-knit nature of NASCAR’s driver community, where triumphs are celebrated collectively, even amid fierce competition.
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