Ryan Preece will begin the Las Vegas Cup race from the 36th position. Preece, driving the No. 41 car for Stewart Haas Racing, was involved in a wreck during the practice session leading up to the race. This adds to the struggles that the team has faced since the introduction of the Next-Gen cars in the 2021 season. Despite having talented drivers on their roster, Stewart Haas Racing has been unable to recapture their past success. Their worst season came in 2023, when they failed to win a race.
The team made promises of a comeback in the 2024 season, but so far they have not shown significant improvement. Preece’s wreck in practice further complicates matters for the team. Last week, Preece received a penalty for illegal modifications to his car’s roof in Atlanta. Now, he has suffered heavy damage to his No. 41 Mustang, and his teammates also had disappointing qualifying results. Preece was unable to set a lap time in qualifying and will start the race from the 36th position. Despite these setbacks, the team’s lead driver had a solid performance, securing a 6th place starting position.
Fans of NASCAR have mixed opinions on the incident involving Preece. Many see it as a reflection of Stewart Haas Racing’s decline in performance and capability. They anticipate a challenging season ahead for the team. However, there are also fans who sympathize with the team, remembering their past success and hoping for a return to form. The future looks uncertain for SHR, as there are reports suggesting they may lose their partnership with Ford in 2025.