WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Ryan Preece offered his perspective Saturday after a midweek penalty for rough driving last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, saying he was eager to explain his side of an incident with Ty Gibbs in the team’s forthcoming appeal.
“Honestly, a bit surprised,” Preece said of his reaction, receiving word by phone as he mowed his yard Tuesday afternoon, “but you know, I’m thankful that NASCAR has an appeals process so that I feel like I can be heard and let that process play itself out.”
Preece’s remarks came Saturday morning in a media availability with RFK Racing teammate Chris Buescher at Watkins Glen International, site of Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen (3 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) for the NASCAR Cup Series.
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NASCAR officials penalized Preece on Tuesday, two days after an on-track altercation with Gibbs during last Sunday’s Würth 400 at the Fort Worth track. Gibbs exited the event early after the close-quarters racing with Preece, who blasted his rival over his No. 60 team’s radio for a perceived lack of respect, saying he opted against cutting Gibbs a break as they fought for position in Stage 2.
Competition officials fined Preece $50,000 and docked him 25 points, dropping him one spot to 13th in the Cup Series driver standings. RFK Racing indicated Thursday that the team will appeal the behavioral penalty.
Preece said he hadn’t discussed the incident with Gibbs in the six days since Sunday, saying, “There’s nothing right now until after an appeals process.”
Competition officials also noted this week that Preece’s candor in vowing retribution over his team communications had factored into the decision to penalize him. When asked Saturday if the penalty might give him pause when expressing himself on the in-car radio, Preece said he didn’t plan on altering his approach.
“You know, at the beginning of the season, we talked about being ourselves,” Preece said. “So I’m not going to change being myself, but what I can say is I’m excited for the appeals process, and I look forward to going through that.”
This story will be updated.
