Many things have changed in the Silly Season since we last looked at Ryan Preece’s 2025. With fewer and fewer openings as the weeks go by, where could Preece be in 2025?
The lowest tier of NASCAR’s national series could have the least options for Preece. Many have hoped a ride at ThorSport could be a spot for Preece.
While there are no known openings on the team, several openings in the Xfinity Series could poach talent from the top Ford program in the Truck Series.
Other options could lie with potential non-Ford openings. While no seats are known to be open yet, there are always openings in the series.
If Preece went down one level, he wouldn’t stay at home, home being a team owned by Gene Haas. The now Haas-Factory team is a one-Cup car and two-Xfinity car program.
Haas announced a commitment to developing talent this Saturday when they signed Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer for next season. With Cole Custer in the Cup car in 2025, Preece must find a new home in either series.
With Ford, the options are slim. RSS Racing looks promising and is a good choice for Preece. The team has also won with a former Stewart-Haas Racing driver before. RSS would have to have an opening first. But for a driver like Preece, they could make that opening.
Another Ford option is AM Racing. The team has had good runs since cutting ties with Hailee Deegan. Some have hoped they could upgrade to a full-time former Cup driver like free agents Harrison Burton and Preece.
Preece has more options outside of Ford, such as one or two seats at JR Motorsports. At JRM, not only is Mayer out, but rumors also point to Brandon Jones being out. Preece could fill that second Veteran role on the team if Jones were to depart.
A new spot is the open No. 18 at Joe Gibbs Racing, where Preece was once a TRD developmental driver. At JGR, Preece won both of his career Xfinity Series races, even one race in the No. 18. TRD has done the occasional reunion; however, would Preece play the role the team wants?
Preece’s chances of finding a Cup ride are slim but not zero, especially since there is a rumor that not two but potentially three Ford seats may be open for 2025.
The NASCAR Cup Series open-seat market consists of the No. 7 at Spire and the future third Front Row Motorsports car.
Preece could be a solid and consistent fit for the new FRR car, mainly if the team wanted a veteran to complement Gragson and Gilliland until Layne Riggs or an unknown driver is ready for the seat.
However, Justin Haley and the No. 7 have intertwined names in many rumor mills, leaving a possible spot at Rick Ware Racing. RWR and Preece would be a great fit. The team has made great strides with Haley, and Preece could hold down the fort until a new driver emerges.
However, Preece was mentioned in the name of a new ride.
Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal blew the whistle that Kroger could head to RFK Racing in 2025. This could open the team with a new entry. Stern even went as far as to mention that Preece is still a free agent when doing so.
Justin Haley could be a target in this scenario. However, Preece could hold down the ride again until RFK found their next driver.
While it hasn’t been the smoothest silly season for Preece, like most drivers, he will eventually find a ride. Where that will be is still unknown.
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