HARRISBURG, N.C. (September 28, 2018) - JTG Daugherty Racing announced today a new driver to their two-car lineup, signing 27-year-old Ryan Preece in a multi-year contract. Preece will join JTG Daugherty Racing for his first full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season starting in the 2019 DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway driving the No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

"Tommy Lasorda says, 'The difference between impossible and possible lies in a man's determination,' and I feel that JTG Daugherty Racing has just that," Preece said. "It's been many years of fighting for opportunities to compete and win races at NASCAR's highest level, and it is nice to officially say that JTG Daugherty Racing is my new home for 2019. I look forward to not only racing, but working with the team as well to build speed and create a name for myself here. I can't thank Tad and Jodi Geschickter, Brad Daugherty and Gordon Smith enough for the opportunity."

Preece joins JTG Daugherty Racing from a recent stint with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, where to date he ran nine races with one win, four top five finishes and six top-10 finishes in 2018. Out of a total of 49 NXS races, he has two wins (Iowa Speedway, 2017 and Bristol Motor Speedway, 2018), eight top-five finishes, 11 top-10 finishes and one pole award. Preece also ran five Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2015 in the No. 98 car for Mike Curb.

Aside from his accomplishments in one of NASCAR's premier series, the Berlin, Connecticut native is most well known in the Northeast, racing in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour since 2007. In 155 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts, he has 22 wins, 76 top-five finishes and 102 top-10 finishes, winning the championship in 2013. Preece was also named to NASCAR's elite "NASCAR NEXT" Class in 2013 and 2014.

"We're really looking forward to having Ryan join our team for the 2019 season," team owner Tad Geschickter said. "Ryan has an impressive list of accomplishments in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series and is now being given a great opportunity to compete at NASCAR's highest level full-time. We really believe in him and think he's a great addition to the team."

Preece is set to finish out the season with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2018, becoming a permanent fixture of JTG Daugherty Racing in 2019. He will start the season with the 2019 DAYTONA 500 on February 17, 2019.

--- JTG Daugherty Racing ---