NASCAR Star Draws Crowd As Guest Bartender At Popular Berlin Eatery

BERLIN, CT — A well-known racing star recently took off his helmet in his hometown to tend bar and meet and greet fans at a local hangout.

Ryan Preece, 35, a Berlin native and NASCAR Cup Series driver, made a hometown appearance last week as a guest bartender at Tavern on the Trax, drawing residents for a two-hour meet-and-greet event.

The appearance, held from 5 to 7 p.m., featured happy hour specials and the debut of a new canned spiced vodka beverage known as the “Kickstand cocktail,” according to the popular restaurant at 845 Farmington Ave.

Following the gathering, Tavern on the Trax thanked Preece in a public statement, crediting his presence with elevating the evening’s atmosphere.

“Your presence brought incredible energy to the night, and having you behind the bar as our guest bartender made it a truly memorable experience for everyone who walked through the doors,” the business said, adding that the connection with attendees was “next level.”

Local Berlin business/event promotional group It’s All in Berlin also highlighted the visit, noting Preece’s continued support for his hometown and its small businesses.

The group tied the appearance to its ongoing “Eat Local Win Local” campaign, which runs through April 15 and encourages residents to patronize participating restaurants for a chance to win prizes.

The event comes amid a milestone year for Preece, who earlier in 2026 secured his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in the Cookout Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The 200-lap race, delayed several days due to weather, was ultimately run Feb. 4.

Preece, who previously competed for Stewart-Haas Racing, joined RFK Racing (Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing) last year.

In addition, Preece has won in the two companion feeder series to the NASCAR Cup.

In 2018, he won two races in the now-NASCAR O'Reilly Series (the second division of stock car racing), and in 2021, he won a NASCAR Truck Series event.

Of course, locally, Preece made a name for himself for years running big-tired, open-wheel modified cars, a staple of northeast racing, winning 28 total modified events.

Specifically, Preece is often seen racing or has raced at Thompson Speedway in Thompson and Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs.

From Feb. 5: 'Berlin Native Wins First NASCAR Cup Series Race In Thrilling Fashion'