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Ryan Preece: NASCAR’s New ‘Rocket Man’ or Just Another Wrecking Ball?

Arthur Ling by Arthur Ling
February 5, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Ryan Preece: NASCAR’s New ‘Rocket Man’ or Just Another Wrecking Ball?

Feb 1, 2025; WInston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece (60) during the heat races for the Clash at Bowman Gray at Bowman Gray Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

If there’s one driver who has refused to back down from a fight on the NASCAR circuit, it’s Ryan Preece. Over the years, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver has developed a reputation for aggressive, no-nonsense racing—a trait that has both earned him respect and made him a lightning rod for controversy.

From his heated battles with Kyle Busch at the 2023 Bristol Dirt Race to the infamous pit road scuffle with Corey LaJoie at Pocono, Preece has cemented himself as one of the toughest drivers to pass. And at Bowman Gray’s Cook Out Clash, his aggression was on full display once again, earning him an intriguing comparison to one of NASCAR’s most notoriously difficult racers—Ryan Newman.

The “New Newman?” NASCAR Insiders Weigh In

During a recent episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Ryan Blaney, Freddie Kraft, and Tommy Baldwin discussed Preece’s racing style.

Kraft pointed out that some drivers in the garage are already calling Preece “the New Newman”—a reference to Ryan Newman’s legendary reputation for being a brick wall on wheels.

Blaney, who had his own run-ins with Preece (including a brutal battle at Texas in 2023), laughed as he warned his fellow drivers:

“If you take an inch on him, he is going to take a foot the next time he gets to you. It’s not like, ‘you get me, I’m gonna get you back double.’ It’s like ‘I’m gonna get you back tenfold.’”

That level of retaliation and stubbornness has made Preece one of the hardest drivers to race against on the track.

How Does Preece Compare to Ryan Newman?

The comparisons aren’t completely unwarranted. Newman was infamous for being a nightmare to pass—often blocking faster cars with ruthless defensive driving.

A classic example? The 2013 Dover race, when Newman refused to yield to David Gilliland, leading to both drivers wrecking into the inside wall. That “try to pass me and you’ll regret it” approach defined Newman’s Cup Series career.

But not everyone on the podcast agreed with the comparison.

Tommy Baldwin, a longtime figure in the NASCAR garage, pushed back on the idea that Preece is just like Newman:

“It’s not Newman. Newman never really wrecked people. He just was very hard to pass, right? I mean, it’s different. There’s a group out there that don’t race correctly.”

Baldwin’s point? There’s a fine line between aggressive defense and outright wrecking people.

Newman was stubborn, tough, and frustratingly difficult to pass—but he was rarely reckless. Meanwhile, Preece has built a reputation for being not just tough to pass, but actively retaliatory.

Is Preece’s Aggression Helping or Hurting His Career?

Preece’s hard-nosed driving style is both a blessing and a curse.

  • It earns him respect from certain fans who appreciate “old-school” racing grit.
  • But it also puts a target on his back, making him a prime candidate for retaliation from other drivers.

As NASCAR evolves, being overly aggressive comes with consequences—both from race control and from competitors who won’t forget a hard shove into the wall.

With Stewart-Haas Racing shutting down at the end of 2024, Preece will need to secure a new ride for 2025. His aggressive reputation could either help or hinder him, depending on how team owners view his style of racing.

Final Verdict: Is Preece the “New Newman”?

While both Preece and Newman are notoriously hard to pass, the key difference is how they defend their positions.

  • Newman was a master of blocking and making cars work overtime to pass him—but he rarely wrecked others intentionally.
  • Preece is more willing to retaliate, taking feuds to the next level.

So, is Ryan Preece really the “New Newman”?

He’s close—but with a little more wreckage in his wake.

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