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A joking comment on Friday turned into a dream opportunity on Saturday morning for NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points leader Ryan Preece.

The Berlin driver found out Saturday morning that he will make his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 27.

Preece, the 2013 Whelen Modified Tour champion, has made three career starts in NASCAR’s second level XFINITY Series for Sprint Cup team owner Tommy Baldwin Jr.

Preece won the Whelen Modified Tour Call Before You Dig 150 Friday at Stafford Motor Speedway.

“I was talking to Tommy on Friday morning and I told him ‘You’ve got to put me in a Cup car at New Hampshire if I win at Stafford.’” Preece told RaceDayCT. “This morning I got a text message that he made a deal to make it happen.”

Preece said Baldwin purchased the No. 98 points spot from team owner Jay Robinson, which will give him a guaranteed starting spot in the event.

“It just caught me off guard,” Preece said. “It’s just awesome. I’ve just always thought it would be cool to start in a Cup car. Tommy is making it happen. It’s definitely an awesome feeling to know I’m doing that. I’ve got a lot of work to do to get ready but it’s going to be so cool to be able to get on that stage with those guys.”