RYAN PREECE (STEWART-HAAS RACING) FORD
2023 DRIVER FANTASY POINTS: 25th
2024 FANTASY NASCAR RANK: 26th
* The 2024 ranking are based on the driver’s projected points scored for the 2024 season and not his predicted finish in the Cup Series standings. The rankings are based on the driver’s performance last year, momentum heading into the 2024 season and the strength of the driver’s team.
2023 RECAP: Ryan Preece returned to the Cup Series last year after racing in the Truck and Xfinity Series in 2022. He took over the seat in the No. 41 car that was previously filled by Cole Custer. The results for Preece were slightly better from what we had from Custer. Preece was one of the easier drivers to predict in Fantasy NASCAR. He was one of the best value picks at the short, flat tracks because of his history of racing on these types of tracks in the Northeast. He had some value at the other tracks, but he was too inconsistent to trust in your fantasy lineups. Overall, it was a decent season for Preece, but a driver from Stewart-Haas Racing should have higher expectations.
2024 PREVIEW: There are a lot of changes in 2024 for Stewart-Haas Racing, but the No. 41 team will stay the same. Ryan Preece will once again be behind the wheel and Chad Johnston will be on top of the pit box. Preece will have Noah Gragson (driving the No. 10 car) and Josh Berry (driving the No. 4 car) as teammates. Losing the experience of Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola has to hurt the team. Tony Stewart is really excited about the drivers for Stewart-Haas Racing. He said, “I have four drivers who love to race. They are like me and I think the teams will work well together in 2024.” My expectations for SHR are low, but I am not betting against Stewart’s teams this year.
So what can we expect from Ryan Preece in 2024? The competition is tougher with the addition of John H. Nemechek, Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith to the Cup Series. Preece will once again have fantasy value at the short, flat tracks. There will likely be better choices for your Fantasy NASCAR teams at the other tracks. Preece will be cheap in DFS contests this year. It is not a bad idea to get a driver with the funding that Stewart-Haas Racing has into your DFS lineups.
SUPERSPEEDWAY VALUE (DAYTONA, TALLADEGA, ATLANTA)
The Fords dominated the Superspeedways last year. Their Roush-Yates horsepower was tough to beat and the front-end of the Mustang allowed the cars to work better in the draft. How will the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse perform in the draft? We will find out in one month, but the reports from the wind tunnel are that Ford is happy with their car for 2024.
Ryan Preece was one of the worst drivers at Daytona last year. He finished 36th in the Daytona 500 and 31st in the Coke Zero 400. He did finish his previous four races in the top 10 at Daytona, so do not discount his fantasy value completely at Daytona. I like Preece more for DFS contests than I do for season-long leagues. He will only have value in DFS Contest though “if” he qualifies out the top-20 with a chance to score place differential points.
Ryan Preece has been hit or miss at Talladega. He finished five of his races inside the top-15 and two races outside the top-30. His fantasy value at Talladega is nearly the same as it is at Daytona in 2024. I recommend fading Preece at Atlanta. It has not been a good track for him in the Cup Series.
(Ryan Preece ranked 27th in fantasy points scored on the Superspeedways last year with an average finishing position of 27th)
SHORT-FLAT TRACK VALUE (PHOENIX, RICHMOND, MARTINSVILLE, GATEWAY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, IOWA)
The short, flat tracks make up 28% of the schedule in 2024, with the addition of Iowa Speedway. This is good news for Ryan Preece’s fantasy value. The short, flat tracks are by far the best for Preece on the schedule.
Ryan Preece dominated the race at Martinsville last year. He won the pole, won Stage 1, lead 135 laps, but fell in the field in the final Stage to finish 15. Preece will once again be one of the best value picks at Martinsville in 2024. This is a good track to use Preece in your One & Done game too. Track position is everything at Martinsville, so make sure Preece qualifies in the top-10 before you pull the trigger though in your season-long lineups at Martinsville.
Ryan Preece finished 5th and 18th at Richmond, 12th and 14th at Phoenix and 17th at Gateway. These stats are not good enough for your Fantasy Live lineups, but they are good enough for a Group C driver in the Driver Group Game and for a cheap pick in your DFS Contests. Preece struggled at New Hampshire (his home track), so I would fade him at Loudon, unless the No. 41 car has a lot of speed in practice.
(Ryan Preece ranked 11th in fantasy points scored on the short-flat tracks last year with an average finishing position of 16.1)
HIGH-BANKED TRACK VALUE (BRISTOL, DOVER)
Ryan Preece is a short-track ace. His is better on the flat tracks, but he was good in the Bristol Night Race too. Preece started 17th, finished 9th in Stage 2 and he finished 12th in the race. His average finishing position in his last five races on the concrete at Bristol is 12th. That is not bad for a Group C driver in the Driver Group Game or a cheap driver in DFS Contests.
Ryan Preece started 30th and finished 17th at Dover last year. The positive place differential points were great for your DFS lineups. Preece will only have value at the Monster Mile in DFS contests if he qualifies outside the top-20 (Preece needs the opportunity to score place differential points in order to have value).
(Ryan Preece ranked 23rd in fantasy points scored on the high-banked tracks last year with an average finishing position of 14.5)
ROAD COURSE TRACK VALUE (COTA, SONOMA, WATKINS GLEN, CHICAGO STREET, CHARLOTTE ROVAL)
Ryan Preece is not the first driver that comes to mind when people think of road course racers. He has been a sneaky good sleeper pick for your DFS Contests though. Preece finished 11th at the Charlotte Roval, 15th at the Chicago Street Course, 13th at Sonoma and 17th at Watkins Glen. There are better choices for your season-long lineups at the road courses, but be sure to take a chance with Preece at the road courses in your DFS Contests. His price will be cheap and his ownership will be low.
(Ryan Preece ranked 22nd in fantasy points scored on the road courses last year with an average finishing position of 19.8)
HIGH TIRE WEAR TRACK VALUE (AUTO CLUB, DARLINGTON, MICHIGAN, HOMESTEAD)
Ryan Preece was decent at the high tire wear tracks, but not consistent enough to be considered for your season-long lineups. Preece finished 13th at Homestead. It was his first finish in the top-20 at Homestead in his five races at the track. Preece also finished 15th at Darlington, but he came back for the Southern 500 and finished 28th. Preece has an average finishing position of 20th at Michigan. There are more consistent drivers you can use in Fantasy Live and the Driver Group Game at the high tire wear tracks. Preece is worth a spot in some of your DFS Contests if he qualifies deep in the field with a chance to score place differential points.
(Ryan Preece ranked 21st in fantasy points scored on the high tire wear tracks last year with an average finishing position of 20.4)
INTERMEDIATE TRACK VALUE (LAS VEGAS, KANSAS, CHARLOTTE AND TEXAS)
The worst tracks for Ryan Preece last year were the intermediate tracks. He finished 23rd and 26th at Las Vegas, 18th and 27th at Kansas, 13th at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and 23rd at Texas . His finish at Charlotte was nice, but it was the first time he ever finished in the top-20 at the track. There are better choices for your Fantasy NASCAR lineups when the Cup Series races on the intermediate tracks in 2024.
(Ryan Preece ranked 31st in fantasy points scored on the intermediate tracks last year with an average finishing position of 27.7)
Best Tracks for Ryan Preece: 1) Martinsville, 2) Bristol, 3) Richmond, 4) Charlotte Roval, 5) Phoenix
Be sure to check out all of the Driver Preview articles that will be released later this week. I will have the drivers ranked 21st – 35th for FREE. The top-20 will be behind the pay wall, so the members can get an advantage over their competitors.
* Team Information from Jaysky.com
** If you need any further advice with your team, look for me on X (Twitter) @MrFantasyNASCAR
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