Ryan Preece has been on the receiving finish of two extremely scary wrecks at Daytona Motor Speedway since 2023.
Within the last race of the 2023 common season, Preece received turned by Erik Jones, forcing him throughout the observe and finally sending him airborne. His automotive flipped almost a dozen instances earlier than coming to a cease.
It was a terrifying crash to witness, however a pair years faraway from the second, Preece has a superb angle about it.
“That was a wild one.” Preece mentioned of the wreck on the Racin’ With the Boys podcast. “I simply keep in mind getting hit from behind, after which heading in the direction of the grass, after which every little thing getting utterly silent and that was it. I used to be alongside for the experience.”
It feels like a scene out of a film, the place the audio cuts in the meanwhile of affect to place you proper contained in the automotive with the motive force. However past that, Preece really had a selected film in thoughts.
“You ever see Talladega Nights, keep in mind Ricky Bobby? He’s identical to, ‘Alright, I’m flying via the air. This isn’t good.’ That’s precisely what was occurring in my head.”
Preece added that many Daytona followers stay “pissed” at him, as his flips are the explanation there isn’t any longer grass on the backstretch of the observe.
A 12 months and a half later, Preece flipped at Daytona once more, this time within the first race of the 2025 common season. Whereas the wreck did not look as unhealthy as his earlier one, it nonetheless was terrible to observe, and in keeping with Preece, in some methods extra painful.
“That one really harm worse,” he mentioned. “My shoulder didn’t really feel nice for a strong two months after that. I assumed I used to be going to fly out of the observe. When the automotive took off, all I can see is simply the sky. And I do know I’m going 200 mph, so I’m pondering I’m going out of the race observe.”
Preece has a easy technique for as soon as he is realized his automotive is flipping.
“I shut my eyes and I hope for the perfect, so it occurs fairly fast. I really feel like in the event you maintain your eyes open, it’s in all probability going to go loads slower, however in addition they say there’s a superb probability that your eyes may like, fly out.”
It is terrifying, nevertheless it’s additionally part of the lifetime of a NASCAR driver.
“To most individuals, if they’ve an accident of their life, it’s a giant deal,” Preece mentioned. “For us, there’s an opportunity that we are able to find yourself wrecking.”
Preece has a superb angle about his wrecks now, however he additionally has been a robust advocate for guaranteeing correct security measures are in place within the wake of the crashes that very simply may have resulted in catastrophe.
“I do not know if it is the diffuser or what that makes these automobiles like a sheet of plywood whenever you stroll out on a windy day,” mentioned Preece after the 2025 crash. “However when the automotive took off like that and it received actual quiet, all I considered was my daughter. I am fortunate to stroll away however we’re getting actually near anyone not with the ability to. Very grateful however yeah, that sucks. This factor was quick.”
We would like your opinion!
What would you wish to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Workforce
