Ryan Preece hopes for a solution to airborne wreck...

As a part of an extended, unique interview with RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece, Motorsport.com wished to get his ideas on the ever-present menace of airborne accidents in NASCAR. Sadly, he has some first-hand expertise with that, particularly with the present technology of automobile.

Preece barrel-rolled in a terrifying accident at Daytona in 2023 in a violent airborne crash that lasted eight seconds. Regardless of struggling some bloodshot eyes, he was in a position to stroll away from the wreckage. NASCAR and Daytona reacted rapidly, eradicating grass from the backstretch on the famed speedway as they believed it performed a task within the severity of the incident.

Sadly, it occurred to Preece as soon as once more late within the 2025 Daytona 500. Whereas working in the midst of the pack, he was unable to keep away from a spinning Christopher Bell, who instantly crossed his path. The influence despatched Preece’s automobile upwards, performing a weird wheelie down the backstretch earlier than going fully over on the entrance of Flip 3.

We determined to not ask Preece about what it is prefer to go up and over as it is a query he is sadly needed to reply lots up to now. “If I had a greenback for each time I have been requested that, I may retire,” he smiled.

We have been extra all in favour of listening to his ideas about what NASCAR may or must be doing to assist counter such incidents. Whereas the sanctioning physique applied some modifications in the course of the 2024 season, no additional updates have been made between February’s Daytona 500 and this weekend’s race at Talladega the place Preece’s No. 60 Ford shall be carrying Celsius colours for the primary time this 12 months.

What is the answer?

“I’m not too positive,” stated Preece when requested about what may very well be finished. “I’m not within the wind tunnel, I’m not an aeronautical engineer, I am not any individual who research CFD (Computational fluid dynamics) for most of these conditions, however I’ve lived by it twice.

“I’m positive with time, we’re going to discover a answer that everyone is pleased with. I don’t essentially know what that answer is. I simply hope that it’s earlier than later. As an individual, as a racer, as somebody that respects the opposite drivers I’m racing in opposition to in addition to the automobile house owners, I don’t wish to see anyone get damage or something of that nature.”

Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Ford

Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photos

Preece continued, saying, “I perceive the dangers. All of us perceive the dangers. Should you make a nasty determination, there’s repercussions, however there’s additionally — if you’re in these sorts of conditions the place you’re virtually helpless, even primarily based off of a choice that you simply did not essentially make, you don’t wish to see that. Racing is harmful and I really feel like a whole lot of followers say that and it is simple to say, however I feel all of us must keep in mind that there’s an individual inside that race automobile so that you don’t wish to see them get damage due to a state of affairs any individual else made.”

You may learn the remainder of Motorsport.com’s unique interview on Friday the place Preece discusses his sturdy begin with RFK, moments of doubt in his profession, expectations for Talladega, and his distinctive mindset as he chases his first profession NASCAR Cup Sequence victory.