Ryan Preece and the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing team will have a sleek new look on their Ford Mustang for this weekend's NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Brickyard. The car will feature the black and gold colors of Purdue University, as the University is swiftly approaching the official launch of its first comprehensive urban campus, which opens in 2024.
The partnership with SHR was a perfect fit for Purdue.
“Purdue University’s persistent pursuit of innovation aligns well with the objectives of Stewart-Haas Racing, making this weekend’s partnership an ideal opportunity to showcase Purdue University in Indianapolis and the world-class engineering, computer science, and technology degrees we will offer there from the start,” said R. Ethan Braden, executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for Purdue University and Purdue Global.
“We look forward to serving as the primary sponsor and cheering on Ryan Preece as he goes full throttle this weekend at Indy. The iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway is just a few miles away from the Purdue University in Indianapolis campus and multiple downtown locations, including our space at High Alpha in the burgeoning Bottleworks District, where weʼll bring the full force of Purdue to our stateʼs capital city.”
Preece is excited for the partnership, and the driver found learning about the motorsports program at the University to be eye-opening.
“It’s an honor to represent Purdue University in Indianapolis this weekend at the Brickyard,” said Preece. “Indy is filled with history and prestige, and competing there is truly special. To have the gold-and-black colors of the Boilermakers on my car just adds to that prestige, as I’ve come to understand Purdue’s own history at Indianapolis.
“I’m impressed by the program Purdue University has for students looking to make a career in motorsports. Creative, hard-working people can thrive in racing. Knowledge is power, and the more you know, the better you are. To be able to showcase Purdue’s comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis makes me proud.”
At Richmond a couple of races ago, Preece snagged his first top-five finish of the season, and he will hope to take the Boilermakers to victory lane this weekend at the 2.439-mile 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Photo Credit: Stewart-Haas Racing
