The first time he went around, flipped 10 times, and walked away from a viral crash at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece returned to work seven days later. He did so despite frayed nerves and bloody eyes.
The second time around, he executed a wheelie and flipped, and Preece rose from the wreckage, standing up on a pulpit. Preece is preaching for additional safety measures for the Gen-7 machines before somebody fails to walk away from such a crash.
Ryan Preece Pressures NASCAR To Consider Changes
While attention slowly shifts to Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Preece again escaped serious injury during the season-opening Daytona 500 and remains poised to climb back in the No. 60 Ford to qualify for the race on Feb. 23.
The first time, following the wreck in September 2023, Preece declared with bloodshot eyes he was “Good, OK, no broken bones,” as reported by The Charlotte Observer.
A look at the incident on Lap 196 of the #DAYTONA500. pic.twitter.com/6OJa154GZC
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 17, 2025
The second time, Preece, with a pair of black eyes, sounded more serious. The 34-year-old realizes he has more to worry about, more to live for, like his 2-year-old daughter. “When the car took off like that, it got real quiet,” Preece said. “All I thought about was my daughter. Everything about it. Airborne.
“Heading toward the fence. I mean, it’s just not a good place to be. Honestly, with a hit like that, a head-on impact, I don’t really think it should’ve gone airborne, right? So, I’m lucky to walk away.”
Will he the next time?
Will his peers?
Preece Sounds Alarm Over Daytona Demolitions
Preece spoke out to sound the alarm. Technical advancements on the latest models enabled Preece to lower the net as soon as his machines came to tumbling halts.
Since Dale Earnhardt Sr. died on the final-lap crash in 2001, NASCAR officials continue to develop new safety procedures, like reimagining seven generations of stock cars and implementing the HANS devices in 2005 and SAFER barriers in ‘06.
“What is that, two years ago that Preece had that other incident?” Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon said. “Of course he’s going to be vocal about that. You never want to get airborne in a car once, let alone what he’s been through.
“I know NASCAR always is looking at those incidents and trying to figure out what they can do better to keep the cars on the ground.
Preece preached for continued research and development. His most recent Daytona accident happened while he was driving nearly 190 mph.
“I don’t want to be the example, when it finally does get somebody,” Preece said. “And I don’t want it to be me.
“Something needs to be done.”
Add it to your shopping list 🛒📝
If you're headed to Atlanta on Friday, come hang with @RyanPreece_ at Kroger in McDonough! pic.twitter.com/NKG8KO5EyT
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) February 19, 2025
