🇺🇸 Preston Pardus

Preston Pardus is a semi-professional driver competing primarily in NASCAR's Xfinity Series, where he has made 34 starts since 2019 without a win or podium finish. His Racer Rating of 3,964 places him in the semi-professional band; he races among and occasionally beats established full-time professionals but does not consistently finish ahead of them. Across 34 shared races in the Xfinity Series, Pardus has finished ahead of Justin Allgaier, a 1-time champion rated at 5,813, only 7 times against 27 defeats; he has similar losing records against Brandon Jones, Ryan Sieg, Jeremy Clements, and Jeb Burton, all rated between 4,341 and 5,156. His average finishing position of P20.3 across all series reflects his typical position in the mid-field of professional-level fields. He has finished ahead of much stronger drivers in isolated instances, beating Ty Gibbs, rated 6,618, six times in shared races and Tyler Reddick, a 1-time champion at 6,770, once; these remain exceptions within his broader pattern of racing against his level.[1]

Pardus has found greater success at club level, where he won three races and four podiums across five starts at the SCCA Runoffs between 2020 and 2024. His 2024 season included four rounds of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin, where he finished P26 and scored no podiums. Currently active, he competes part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series for Pardus Racing Inc., his family operation, having returned to the schedule in 2026 following his Xfinity Series tenure. Rick Ware Racing LLC fielded him for four starts in the Mazda MX-5 Cup; that team has not won a race on record.[2]