The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld behavioral penalties against driver Ryan Preece, ruling after a Wednesday appeals hearing to keep the original punishment intact for his actions in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.
After hearing the testimony, the three-member panel affirmed and upheld the original penalty assessed by NASCAR for Preece’s rough driving as he competed for position with Ty Gibbs during the May 3 Würth 400 presented by Liqui Moly at the Fort Worth track.
In reaching the above decision, the panel provided the following explanation: “Although not a unanimous decision, NASCAR and RFK Racing presented competing interpretations of common data. Neither side clearly proved their point, but Mr. Preece’s comments showed that he chose to not cut his competitor any breaks.”
The Appeals Panel members for this hearing were Tom DeLoach, Dixon Johnston and Lake Speed.
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“RFK Racing is extremely disappointed in today’s ruling by the National Motorsports Appeals Panel,” RFK Racing said in a statement on X. “We stand by Ryan Preece and believe our argument was fair, sound and without question.
“We appreciate the forum provided by NASCAR to both provide detailed evidence and defend our stance through thoughtful data and digital evidence.”
Competition officials levied a $50,000 fine and a 25-point deduction in the Cup Series driver points after the violation of Sections 4.3 and 4.4A in the NASCAR Rule Book (member conduct guidelines). After Wednesday’s hearing, that penalty stands. Preece and his RFK Racing team have the option of filing a final appeal.
Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota crashed after close-quarters racing with Preece’s No. 60 Ford on the 101st of 267 laps at Texas. Another run-in between the two drivers led up to that final battle, prompting Preece to hint at on-track retribution – a factor that NASCAR Vice President of Racing Communications Mike Forde said weighed into the decision to issue a penalty.
Post-race, Preece said in part: “I was not going to cut him a break because in the past, him and I have had problems. So I’ve got a little bit of a short fuse with him and I, with how we’re racing.” In a pre-race availability the next weekend at Watkins Glen International, Preece said he looked forward to having his voice heard in the appeals process.
Preece ranks 16th in the Cup Series standings after crashing out of the Coca-Cola 600, provisionally holding the final position in The Chase postseason picture.