Preece, 27, became the seventh different winner this year in the Xfinity Series in as many races, beating Justin Allgaier and Daniel Hemric.<\/b>
\nBRISTOL, Tenn. \u2013 Ryan Preece was willing to risk just about anything in hopes of bolstering his racing career. That meant going into major debt last year for a chance to run a few races on the Xfinity Series.
But Preece\u2019s investment in himself paid off big time Saturday as the full-time NASCAR Modified Tour driver captured the Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway and took home the Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonus prize.
\u201cWould I advise somebody to do what I did? Probably not,\u201d Preece said of incurring debt. \u201cBut I wanted a chance. And it worked out. I guess if you want it bad enough it will all work out.\u201d
Preece, driving the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota, added \u201cit\u2019s gratifying that when I leave here and I will be debt free.\u201d
He became the seventh different winner this year in the Xfinity Series in as many races, beating Justin Allgaier and Daniel Hemric to the finish line. Elliott Sadler finished fourth and Spencer Gallagher was fifth.
Cup Series regulars were not eligible to compete because of restrictions placed on the Dash 4 Cash races.
The 27-year-old Preece was racing in only his third Xfinity Series event of the year. It didn\u2019t bother the other Xfinity Series regulars that a non-regular like Preece won the money. In fact, they applauded his win.
\u201cIf you qualify for the show, you meet the criteria and you beat out 39 other dudes whose job it is to do this full time at a place like Bristol, well, congratulations you deserve it,\u201d Gallagher said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s it.\u201d
Added Hemric: \u201cHe drove his tail off and put himself in position and stepped up when he had to.\u201d
Preece was strong all day, but it all came down to the final 10 laps.
Brandon Jones bemoaned the final caution that came out late. He gambled by taking on only two tires. Preece, who took four tires, was able to take him on the restart and he pulled away for an easy victory.
Preece was competing with three other qualifying drivers \u2013 pole sitter Cole Custer, Christopher Bell and Hemric \u2013for the $100,000 prize.
\u201cI take every race as a chance to build a future for myself,\u201d Preece said. \u201cWhere I will be after this season I don\u2019t have a clue. But I won\u2019t be the one that prevents me from getting somewhere. I will do everything I can to make sure that I am not the weak link.\u201d
BELL\u2019S CRASH: Bell was one of the pre-race favorites and the stage one winner, but crashed just near the midway point of the race when he couldn\u2019t avoid a collision between Vinnie Miller and Cody Ware. He car t-boned Miller, ending Bell\u2019s day on the track.
MORE CASH UP FOR GRABS: Next week Allgaier, Gallagher, Jones and Sadler will contend for the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash prize at Richmond. Hemric would have been on that list but his car failed post-race inspection and he was replaced by Jones.
\u201cIt\u2019s a huge deal to be able to go for that,\u201d Allgaier said. \u201cIt was disheartening not to be able to (qualify) for it this weekend.<\/p>\n

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