Ryan Preece’s No. 41 Ford Mustang will have sponsorship from the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) for two upcoming races on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
IUOE will first appear on the Stewart-Haas Racing machine during the inaugural Chicago Street Race on July 2 before returning for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 16.
“We are excited to introduce more folks to the Operating Engineers through our partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing and the No. 41 team,” said IUOE General President James T. Callahan. “Our members go to work every day building and maintaining the infrastructure that keeps America moving, and we are looking for other hardworking men and women to join our team and jumpstart their career with the Operating Engineers.”
Founded in 1896, the IUOE has more than 400,000 members in 106 local unions throughout the United States and Canada.
“I have a great appreciation for hard work and what it takes to put in the effort, day in and day out, to ensure the job is done right and done safely,” said Preece. “The IUOE helps ensure that its members are properly trained on the latest equipment and are up to date on all the right protocols to work in a safe and efficient manner.
“That’s what we do in racing. We perform at the highest level, with the highest level of safety and preparation, 38 weekends a year. There’s no room for complacency. What we do in NASCAR is what the IUOE instills in its members.”
Earlier this year Preece visited the IUOE International Training & Education Center in Crosby, Texas.
“The resources available at the International Training & Education Center were impressive,” Preece said. “The crane field alone, where they have more than 15 different cranes that allow instructors to create real-world scenarios, was larger than life. And their sim rooms were just as high-tech as the sim we use to get ready for races. They not only work on your mind at the International Training & Education Center, but your body too, with a full fitness center and complete dining facilities.
“It’s great that we can use the IUOE’s races with Stewart-Haas Racing to help tell their story and showcase all that the IUOE has to offer.”
