Iconic wine producer Caymus Vineyards will feature Bonanza, its popular California Cabernet Sauvignon, on the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse of Stewart-Haas Racing driver Ryan Preece in back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Preece will drive the No. 41 Bonanza Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the Oct. 20 South Point 400 at Las Vegas and the Oct. 27 Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead. Both races begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT and each will be broadcast live on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The pairing serves as a reunion between Preece and Bonanza, as Preece drove a Bonanza-emblazoned Ford to victory in June 2023 in the ARCA Menards Series West race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. Preece dominated from start to finish, winning the pole and leading twice for a race-high 50 laps, including the final 32 tours around the 1.99-mile, 10-turn road course, to take the victory by a commanding 9.675 seconds over runner-up Sammy Smith. It was Preece’s first ARCA victory and the first ARCA win for Stewart-Haas. From his race-winning chalice in victory lane, Preece literally enjoyed the fruits of his labor, sipping on Bonanza while soaking in the moment amid TV interviews and photographs.
Bonanza was created by Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards, with the wine’s name inspired by the “bonanza” of the great state of California, where the diverse vineyard land that produces delicious Cabernet can be found.
“Representing Caymus Vineyards and Bonanza at Sonoma allowed me to see just how hands-on the Wagner family is when it comes to their winemaking,” Preece said. “It’s impressive, and it’s something I can really appreciate. I’m hands-on with my racecars because I want them to be the very best. They have the same mindset at Caymus. That’s why they’re a great partner for our race team.”
After serving as an associate partner in 2023, Caymus Vineyards expanded its role with Stewart-Haas in 2024. The family-owned and operated winery has had a yearlong presence on the lower-rear quarter panel of Preece’s No. 41 Ford Mustang, along with branding on his firesuit.
“We’re thrilled to have such a great partnership with Stewart-Haas and we’re proud to have Bonanza back with Ryan Preece, who memorably put our Bonanza Cabernet car in victory lane in 2023 at Sonoma,” said Karen Perry, Executive Vice President, Caymus Vineyards. “Whether it’s on the track, in the vineyards or the cellar, what we have in common is a drive to be the very best through a commitment to excellence.”
— Stewart-Haas Racing —
