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The JTG Daugherty NASCAR Cup team has announced Ryan Preece as race-winner AJ Allmendinger’s replacement for the 2019 season.
Preece was the 2013 champion in NASCAR’s Whelen Modified series, and has continued racing Late Models alongside a part-time Xfinity campaign with Joe Gibbs Racing in which he has taken two victories in the last two seasons.
The 27-year-old has agreed a multi-year contract with Chevrolet team JTG Daugherty, which revealed sometime single-seater racing Allmendinger’s exit earlier this week.
“[Famous baseball team manager] Tommy Lasorda says, ‘The difference between impossible and possible lies in a man’s determination’, and I feel that JTG Daugherty Racing has just that,” Preece said.
“It’s been many years of fighting for opportunities to compete and win races at NASCAR’s highest level, and it is nice to officially say that JTG Daugherty Racing is my new home for 2019.
“I look forward to not only racing, but working with the team as well to build speed and create a name for myself here.
“I can’t thank [team owners] Tad and Jodi Geschickter, Brad Daugherty and Gordon Smith enough for the opportunity.”
Preece already has five Cup starts to his name from a stint with the small Phil Parsons Racing team in 2015.
“We’re really looking forward to having Ryan join our team for the 2019 season,” JTG Daugherty co-owner Tad Geschickter said.
“Ryan has an impressive list of accomplishments in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and is now being given a great opportunity to compete at NASCAR’s highest level full-time.
“We really believe in him and think he’s a great addition to the team.”