Herm & Schrader Podcast: "Ryan Preece: What Drives His NASCAR Dream"
Hosts: Kenny Wallace & Ken Schrader
Guest: Ryan Preece
Date: August 28, 2025
Producer: SiriusXM, Dirty Mo Media
Episode Overview
This episode features an in-depth and candid conversation between Kenny Wallace and NASCAR Cup driver Ryan Preece. The two, both seasoned racers with hands-on backgrounds, bond over their shared experiences, covering Preece’s blue-collar Northeast racing roots, meteoric rise through Modifieds, and his transition into NASCAR’s top levels. The discussion is both technical and personal, offering listeners rare insights into what drives a racer’s career, the realities of the racing grind, and Preece’s ambitions for the future—all colored by the raucous, irreverent Herm & Schrader vibe.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Northeast Racing Roots and Culture
- Ryan grew up in Berlin, CT, a small but racing-rich town.
- The Northeast is recognized as a “hardcore” racing region with tough, passionate competitors and legendary fabricators.
- Preece credits the long winters for driving racers into their shops, fueling the culture of craftsmanship and innovation.
- Kenny Wallace reflects on the gritty, no-nonsense reputation of Northeast racers, mentioning icons like Tommy Baldwin and Reggie Ruggerio.
"The culture up there is, we are all very aggressive in all aspects of life...if you aren't out shoveling snow or plowing, you're probably in your garage, working on your race car."
— Ryan Preece, [15:16]
2. Racing Family and Early Influences
- Ryan’s father aspired to race but started late, finally fielding a Street Stock after marrying Ryan’s mother.
- Core memories include grabbing coffee for the Pryor brothers before heading to their fabrication shop.
- Joey Logano also started at Silver City Quarter Midget track, just minutes from Preece’s home.
"One of the core memories I have…was always, before we’d go to Prior Brothers fabrication, we’d always go get coffee...because you never showed up empty-handed.”
— Ryan Preece, [11:40]
3. Path Through Modifieds and Early Success
- Detailed breakdown of Modified divisions: Tour-type, SK, and SK Lights.
- Preece dominated New England’s Modified circuit from 2010—2015, racing weekly at Stafford, Thompson, and Riverhead.
- He describes Loudon (NHMS) as the “Daytona 500 for Modifieds.”
"Loudon, 100%...that’s the biggest race of the year for us in the Northeast.”
— Ryan Preece, [09:44]
- Memorable rivalry and mentorship moments, especially with legends like Reggie Ruggerio and Teddy Christopher.
- Reflections on the importance of local circuits and the challenge of maintaining the "show" for fans.
4. Relationship and Racing with Heather
- In 2011, Preece won the SK Mod championship at Stafford while future-wife Heather earned Rookie of the Year.
- Their mutual competitiveness added fun (and some tension) to their relationship.
“If you do that (help her rival), I’m gonna kick your ass... Love wins. Love wins.”
— Ryan Preece, [23:26]“She’s not the type of wife that is going to look at me and just tell me what I want to hear.”
— Ryan Preece, [24:46]
5. Technical Side: Racing the Outside & Car Setup
- Explains the nuanced setup and driving style that let him “roll the outside” at the flat Stafford Speedway, a rare feat.
- Insights into handling, momentum, and car geometry—though Preece gives plenty of credit to his crew chief.
“I had the stability...to be able to drive it in really hard on the outside but not get tight rolling the center...once you get to someone’s outside...they have to lift.”
— Ryan Preece, [26:24]
6. Stat Rundown & Notable Victories
- Multiple championships and high-profile Modified wins: Whelen Modified Tour champion (2013), Turkey Derby, Spring Sizzler, World Series titles, and more.
- Touching story about winning the 2021 “Virginia is for Lovers” race, then tragically losing car owner Eddie Partridge minutes later.
“...wasn’t 10 minutes after, he was driving back to Long Island, and we got a call he had a massive heart attack...we lost him that day.”
— Ryan Preece, [30:32]
7. Modern Racing—Entertainment vs. Sport
- Discussion of events like Cletus McFarland’s New England 900 at Stafford and their role in bringing crowds and fun back to short tracks.
- Importance of rivalry, personalities, and providing a “show” for fans—sometimes lost in modern, ultra-competitive local racing.
"Those roles are so important to the people that show up...cheering you or booing you."
— Ryan Preece, [34:22]
8. Hardcore Racing Economics
- Realities of underfunded regional racing: “I’m spending seven, eight grand to finish sixth, and it pays $3,500...you’re losing money.”
- Preece acknowledges the pressure on racers and teams, and how passion keeps grassroots scenes alive.
“As racers, we can be our own worst enemy...we’re going to spend whatever it takes to be (more) competitive.”
— Ryan Preece, [37:25]
9. Ascent to NASCAR National Series
- Preece made the jump to the national stage after dominating regionally, accumulating 280 starts and counting in Cup, Xfinity, and Trucks.
- Kenny calls Preece a Northeast “legend” for his swift modified dominance and fast rise to NASCAR—something rare in the sport’s history.
“...there’s a lot of things I sacrificed in 2016, 18, 19, and beyond...because I wanted to be successful at a national level, so I grinded it out...”
— Ryan Preece, [41:15]
10. NASCAR Cup Career & Team Transition
- Reflection on the emotional journey of moving from Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) to RFK Racing, handpicked by Brad Keselowski.
- Grateful for resources and team support at RFK, seeing it as a “breath of fresh air” compared to struggling at SHR.
“Coming here to RFK…was a breath of fresh air...I feel like Brad was building a team that was going to be competitive right off the bat...”
— Ryan Preece, [51:47]
- Kenny and Ryan compare Keselowski’s and Preece’s mindsets: grinding, hands-on, always searching for ways forward.
- Preece celebrates being named “Most Improved Driver” for 2025’s regular season.
11. Technical Evolution: Mechanical Grip, Chassis, and Racecraft
- The duo dig deep into how setups, technology, and racing philosophy have evolved.
- Preece talks about learning to not “chase the practice sheet,” the value of long-run speed over hot laps, and learning to let engineers handle more of the setup so he can focus on driving.
“There’s so much to it...I don’t understand all the pieces...but, I can help...decipher which corner, or what we need to work on in order to be better.”
— Ryan Preece, [63:49]
12. Surviving Daytona Flips & “Going to the Moon”
- Preece relives his two terrifying airborne crashes at Daytona, one of which left him with little memory, the other he remembers in detail.
- He’s adopted the “astronaut” moniker after fans photoshopped his face onto an astronaut body.
“You close your eyes and say, well, I’m ready for this ride to end...your body does a whole lot to protect you from remembering incidents like that.”
— Ryan Preece, [70:59]
13. NASCAR Today: Challenges and Hopes
- Preece praises current fan turnout—“some of the best crowds” he’s seen.
- Wants more horsepower for the Next Gen car: “From a weight perspective, our car is 3,500 pounds...we need a lot more [than 670 HP]. In my opinion, you need 900 to 1,000 horsepower.”
- He’s open to new ideas (push-to-pass, format tweaks), but stresses that whatever excites fans—rivalries, entertainment—should lead the way.
“If doing a backflip off a race car tomorrow would entertain fans, I guess I need to learn how to do a backflip.”
— Ryan Preece, [77:19]
14. Memorable Closing Stories
- Heartfelt thank-you to the hosts; story about Kenny Schrader’s “gangster” arrival at his shop, driving a blacked-out Impala.
- Kenny and Ryan swap admiration for each other’s racing, technical knowledge, and commitment to keeping it real.
“This is…as somebody who’s been a fan of you and what you do...it’s really great to have the opportunity to come here and talk with you.”
— Ryan Preece, [78:33]
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- “We’re all aggressive in all aspects of life…when we honk, we don’t mean anything by it.” (Ryan Preece – [15:16])
- “If you do that, I’m gonna kick your ass. So, yeah, I was in a little bit of a predicament...” (Ryan Preece, on tough racing with his wife Heather – [23:26])
- “You need to understand what your role is…what entertains the fans.” (Ryan Preece – [35:20])
- “There’s nothing more irritating...than having to move back home, not thinking I ever accomplished what I felt I could...” (Ryan Preece – [52:45])
- “If you’re not thinking forward...you’re going to get passed by.” (Ryan Preece, about Brad Keselowski – [55:32])
- “I like to joke that I’m an astronaut, because I saw it on Reddit...” (Ryan Preece, on his infamous flips – [72:42])
- “We’re innovators…that was the appealing thing to people—is we were just…different, we were outlaws.” (Ryan Preece – [76:44])
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [02:37] – Ryan reflects on his roots, meeting Kenny, dominant days in the Northeast.
- [04:03] – The life of a full-time Modified racer, Northeast racing culture.
- [09:44] – “Loudon is the Daytona 500 for Modifieds.”
- [21:25–23:52] – Story of winning championships alongside wife Heather.
- [30:32] – The bittersweet “Virginia is for Lovers” modified win and loss of Eddie Partridge.
- [34:22–37:25] – Balancing the ‘show’ and the struggle to make local racing fun and profitable.
- [41:15–45:44] – Sacrificing regional dominance for the NASCAR dream.
- [51:47] – Making the leap to RFK, Keselowski’s leadership.
- [70:59–73:07] – The flip stories at Daytona and fan reactions.
- [73:42–77:19] – Preece evaluates NASCAR’s format, horsepower needs, and the importance of entertaining the crowd.
Tone & Takeaways
Raw, honest, sometimes hilarious but always deeply respectful of the sport and its people. Ryan Preece proves himself as both a racer’s racer and a thoughtful advocate for the future of short-track and big-league NASCAR. The episode is a treasure chest of Northeast racing lore, technical wisdom, and authentic racer perspective.
If you love racing—at any level—this is a must-listen (or a must-read summary).