After two rocky seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing, Ryan Preece steps into the No. 60 Ford Mustang. He will drive the third and leased charter of Brad Keselowski’s squad alongside the co-owner and Chris Buescher. After years of uncertainty, both on and off the track, this opportunity offers stability to the Connecticut native. But beyond the challenges of his professional life, another crucial role demands his attention, i.e. being a father. Balancing his NASCAR career while navigating his one-year-old daughter, Rebecca Marie’s life introduces additional pressures and responsibilities.

Ahead of the upcoming season, the former Stewart-Haas Racing driver opened up about his daughter’s future. He revealed that he doesn’t fear if his daughter chooses to race as her career. However, he gave a blunt verdict about whether he would push her or not.

Ryan Preece shares the dark truth of the racing world!

As a father, Ryan Preece faces a question many athletes confront: Would he encourage his child to follow in his footsteps? When asked about the possibility of Rebecca entering the high-stakes world of racing, Preece was candid yet calm. In a conversation with CT Insider, he said, “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.”

Preece’s open-mindedness about Rebecca’s future likely stems from his own challenging journey in motorsports. Breaking into the NASCAR Cup Series was no easy feat for the 34-year-old. Despite his love for racing and dedication, his career has seen more valleys than peaks. In his five full-time seasons, Preece has faced equipment issues and a lack of competitive opportunities.

His last two seasons with the Stewart-Haas Racing were nothing sort of underwhelming. He made just two top 5 finishes with Gene Haas and Tony Stewart’s squad. With one top 5 and five top 10 finishes, he finished 26th in the 2024 standings. His off-track connections with the squad were also not good, as many think that the toxic racing environment of SHR taking a toll on him. Despite such underwhelming numbers and his career struggles, RFK Racing signed Preece for their ambitious third charter. Recently, the team’s co-owner Brad Keselowski praised the Connecticut native. Drawing parallels to Joey Logano’s rebound with Team Penske, Keselowski believes Preece’s work ethic and talent make him a perfect fit for RFK’s ambitious plans.

While Ryan Preece doesn’t want to push his daughter to race, her early signs seem promising. “She loves her little toy car, which I’m sure most kids do, but she also loves sitting in my truck. She loves grabbing the steering wheel. I see the glow that she has when she gets around cars,” the 39-year-old told CT Insider.

Notably, this should not be a shock, considering the racing blood she has. Apart from her father, Rebecca’s mother, and Preece’s wife, Heather DesRochers was also a racer. Her journey in racing began years before she met Preece. A determined and skilled driver, she competed in various divisions, ranging from go-karts to mini sprints. Her talent earned her a spot in NASCAR’s prestigious “Drive for Diversity” Combine in 2010 and 2011.

In 2009, Preece and Heather’s paths crossed at Stafford Motor Speedway, a place central to their racing roots. By 2011, the two were competing side by side in the highly competitive SK Modified Series. While Preece clinched the series championship that year, Heather proved she was no stranger to the intensity and skill required on the track. Now, Preece will aim to make a count of opportunities at RFK Racing in the upcoming season.

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RFK Racing’s New Setup for Preece in 2025

RFK Racing has meticulously crafted its strategy for 2025, ensuring Ryan Preece has the tools needed for success. They have roped in NASCAR veteran Derrick Finley to serve as crew chief for the No. 60 team. While his Cup Series record lacks wins, his recent success as crew chief for RFK’s part-time entry in 2024 demonstrates his capability. “His experience and technical knowledge will play a crucial role in the initial development and growth of the No. 60 team,” Brad Keselowski said in a statement.

Apart from an experienced crew chief, RFK Racing has also bought strong sponsorship support for Ryan Preece. Apart from the team’s chief partner Kroger Racing, Preece’s longtime partner Mohawk Northeast will also back the No.60 program. Mohawk will partner for three key races at Iowa Speedway, Watkins Glen, and New Hampshire.

Preece is also stepping into RFK Racing at a time when the team is looking for more playoff entries. In the 2024 season, while Brad Keselowski’s performance improved, his teammate Chris Buescher struggled to repeat last year’s heroics. With Peerce’s addition, RFK Racing would hope to get back on track and challenge top teams.