The past two weeks of NASCAR have been quite eventful in terms of racing. With incessant rain playing the role of a bitter foe, races were either delayed or laps were shortened. With all the criticism and bashing, NASCAR is ready to enter the next race weekend on a high note. As drivers are ready to take their position on the 1.058-mile oval track of the Magic Mile, Ryan Preece feels overly confident.

The New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with its progressive banking, has always been a popular track among fans and drivers alike. While Christopher Bell is the defending winner, it is Stewart-Haas Racing driver Ryan Preece who considers that the race holds a pivotal role and that he has an edge over other drivers who are yet to make it to the Playoffs. In an optimistic tone, the driver reveals to SkewCar how he holds the upper hand in the Crayon 301.

Ryan, confident or overconfident for the NHMS race?

NASCAR enthusiasts had high expectations for Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott on his home track. But the No. 9 Chevy failed to deliver a favorable race and had a grim qualifier and race in Atlanta.

The upcoming NHMS race will also be a test for Elliott, as he has yet to score a victory and is still way beyond the cutoff line for the Playoffs. However, this being the SHR and the No. 41 Ford Mustang driver’s home track, Elliott will not be alone.

Ryan Preece is surely walking on eggshells but is optimistic in his approach. And this was evident in his interview with SkewCar. When asked by the journalist, “Ryan with you, where you are on the championship, Chase here trying to make it to the Playoffs, where do you think you stand? New Hampshire being the home track for you.., how do you feel about your chances of maybe notching a victory this weekend?”

To this, the driver replied, “You know it’s so funny that you say that because that’s like a rare thing right? I mean we usually we go to a lot of these tracks where Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and a lot of these other guys, they have so many laps, where a lot of us don’t. Where this is the track I have been going to since I was 7, even though it’s been modified but I am just so comfortable and a local track that I grew up racing at.”

“It’s so much alike New Hampshire, with how you need to drive it when you drive these Cup cars or Xfinity cars. So I really feel confident going into it and it would be nice to be able to sneak one out because going into the season there was a few select races where I felt confident that if we were fast off the track and we execute that we could sneak our way into the playoffs with one of them,” Preece asserted.

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The SHR driver looks forward to the most coveted race on his calendar

The SHR driver, who is also the 2013 Whelen Modified Champion, had only one victory on his home track in 2021. But the driver has yet to score a top 10 or top 5, let alone a victory.

In the race in Atlanta, the No. 41 Ford Mustang also sustained a wreck after making contact with Bubba Wallace, which eventually put an end to his top 10 positions. However, speaking to the media about how he looks forward to racing in his hometown, the driver expressed, “I put in a lot of preparation at going over details with Chad (Johnston, crew chief) and amongst my team every week, but when you see places like this, you put in that extra little bit[…]”

“My opportunity to win at a place like New Hampshire is greater[…]I feel really confident with what we’re bringing that we can be a contender.”

While things are surely heating up among the drivers who are yet to make it to the Playoffs, it will be interesting to see how these drivers walk the extra mile in order to fill up the remaining berths. Stay tuned for NHMS weekend updates.

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