NASCAR penalizes Ryan Preece for Texas incident with Ty Gibbs

CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR penalized Ryan Preece for an incident with Ty Gibbs in Sunday’s Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Preece will lose 25 points and $50,000 for the incident on lap 102 of the May 3 NASCAR Cup Series race.

Gibbs spun in turn three and hit the outside wall. He finished 36th after scoring seven stage points and having one of the best cars in the race.

While Preece said he “never touched him” and replays of the incident appeared inconclusive, radio communication after Gibbs and Preece had a run-in was a smoking gun. 

“What a f—ing idiot that kid is! He is SO lucky his car is so f—ing fast!” Preece said, adding during another caution, “Alright when I get to that 54, I’m done with him. F—ing idiot. That car is so f—ing fast. It f—ing pisses me off. Stupid. I’m going to vent for 15 seconds. I can’t stand when idiots like him have fast race cars, that they can do stupid s— and get away with it. End of rant.”

After the race, Preece reportedly said that he hated that Gibbs wrecked. He added he wants to race drivers with respect and that he wants it in return or else he won’t cut them a break.

In 2023, NASCAR penalized Denny Hamlin for an incident with Ross Chastain at Phoenix Raceway. On his podcast, Hamlin admitted the incident was intentional, leading to a 25-point penalty.

Preece is now 13th in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings, 253 points behind leader Tyler Reddick and 38 above the Chase cutline. Gibbs is seventh in the standings, 196 points behind Reddick and 95 points above the cutline.

Next is Watkins Glen. Last year, Preece finished 13th last year while Gibbs finished 33rd.