NASCAR driver Ryan Preece cleared to race after ‘violent’ wreck at Daytona

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Drivers expressed concern over Ryan Preece’s wild flipping wreck from Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, all of the whereas happy that he was in a position to get out beneath his personal energy.

Preece, whose automobile flipped greater than 10 instances, was cleared to race Friday morning this weekend at Darlington Raceway. Stewart-Haas Racing posted a video indicating he’s nice.

NASCAR additionally will re-examine whether or not grass within the space the place Preece spun ought to or might be eliminated. Grass at racetracks usually assist with drainage, and, relying on the ability, might be required relying on environmental rules.

“I do not just like the grass,” stated Kevin Harvick through the 2023 NASCAR Cup Collection playoff media day Thursday. “That wreck was extra violent than it in all probability would have been if it wasn’t going from one floor to the subsequent. … I did not like how it will seize within the grass and twist in a unique path.

“I do know we have talked about it for a lot of years to get the grass off the again straightaway and there is extra to it than simply taking the grass off from all the principles [the track must follow]. The grass actually must go.”

Preece wasn’t the one driver concerned in a viscous accident Sunday. Ryan Blaney was turned head-on into the wall at excessive velocity. The SAFER Barrier on the wall buckled greater than seen in most wrecks (which is an efficient factor), and the entrance of the automobile collapsed the way in which it was designed with the updates NASCAR did to the entrance space of the automobile following Preece’s laborious crash with Kyle Larson at Talladega earlier this yr.

NASCAR confirmed to FOX Sports activities that the G-forces in Blaney’s wreck Saturday have been among the many prime 5 (however not the best) that NASCAR has recorded this yr. Blaney stated it was “by far” the toughest hit so far as G-forces he has ever skilled.

In June, Blaney hit a concrete wall at Nashville Superspeedway that didn’t have a SAFER (steel-and-foam vitality discount) Barrier connected. He suffered concussion-type signs after that accident.

“I felt higher after this one,” Blaney stated. “A number of the circumstances concerned in it helped. My physique felt extra sore after this one than my head. That was good.”

So far as Preece’s accident, NASCAR was happy with the efficiency of the middle part, which was designed in its Subsequent Gen automobile with further bars to get rid of intrusion. Additionally, NASCAR added a rule requiring a hearth bottle close to the engine compartment that’s heat-activated (it beforehand might be driver discretion to have it manually activated) — that fireside bottle went off after Preece’s automobile caught fireplace when it stopped.

“It was a sheet of plywood — it simply lifted solution to straightforward,” stated Kyle Busch. “That was regarding clearly, and simply how briskly it took off. It seemed like an iRacing (digital racing) wreck. It was loopy. I did not know that 3,600 kilos may transfer that quick.”

Few drivers have skilled a flip equivalent to Preece’s. Sometimes when a inventory automobile flips, it barrel-rolls. However Preece’s automobile flipped within the air like a gymnast, doing a number of full rotations earlier than hitting the bottom once more. 

Denny Hamlin referred to as the roof hatch “Tupperware” however he did not know if that was a simple repair, and Joey Logano was involved that the automobile didn’t dissipate as a lot of the vitality because it may.

“The automobile did not actually shed any elements whereas it was spinning,” Logano stated. “It stayed collectively and it holds him tight like a determine skater would once they’re spitting and that is why they spin so fast.

“There was nothing actually getting off the automobile and dispersing that vitality. On the intense facet, the cage seems to be prefer it did its job and he is OK.”

Final yr, drivers have been vocal in NASCAR needing to enhance the protection of the Subsequent Gen automobile, which was launched in 2022. Drivers stated they have been absorbing extra vitality within the hits, particularly rear impacts. NASCAR made modifications previous to this season to the rear of the automobile after which the modifications to the entrance of the automobile have been efficient in July.

“Each [drivers] stated that they really feel OK in order that’s a great signal that it is not off course,” stated driver and crew co-owner Denny Hamlin. “Definitely, from what we have seen, the crushing of the entrance of the 12 automobile [of Blaney] is actually a acquire than what we have had previously.

“I am happy with it. NASCAR has received to proceed to take a look at it, however I am actually happy with the progress that has been made. And it looks as if the drivers who’ve been concerned in it are happy as effectively.”

Blaney stated the modifications to the entrance clip have been key to him feeling OK. 

“I felt the entrance clip updates undoubtedly helped me,” Blaney stated. “Clearly hitting a SAFER Barrier wall was optimistic, however the entrance clip updates have been big.

“I felt like if these weren’t in and we wrecked at Daytona, I really feel like it will have been rather a lot worse for certain.”

Now the subsequent step might be any modifications doubtlessly as the results of the Preece accident. Kyle Larson had bloodshot eyes for weeks after a dash automobile wreck the place he made fast, a number of rotations.

“That was in all probability probably the most violent wreck I’ve ever seen in my profession — and I race dash vehicles,” Larson stated about Preece’s accident. “That is was loopy. …. After I wrecked in New Zealand just a few years in the past, it was not as loopy as that however very related the place I had very fast rotations.

“It is simply wild. The gravity needs to tug your entire physique and fingers off the wheel. My eyes have been bloodshot for just a few months. I am certain he seems to be fairly enticing proper now.”

Preece, for his half, hasn’t misplaced his humorousness. When Bubba Wallace texted him to see if he was OK, Preece made a reference to the actress who performed a nurse on the Daytona hospital within the film “Days of Thunder.”

“He stated he can affirm that Nicole Kidman doesn’t work on the hospital at Daytona,” Wallace stated. “He was good there. Blaney was higher than Nashville, so I believed that was an enchancment. … I do know we have put numerous work to lower the carry [for Preece’s accident], but it surely’s so laborious to copy real-life moments within the race.”

NASCAR has a crash knowledge recorder in every automobile in addition to high-speed digicam centered on the driving force that’s triggered when a wreck happens. Blaney additionally was sporting a mouthpiece designed to document knowledge so far as how a lot vitality he absorbed within the crash. NASCAR works with consultants at Wake Forest College in analyzing that knowledge.

Blaney did not put on the mouthpiece at Nashville.

“I’ve worn it many of the yr — we have labored with Wake Forest on getting that factor becoming good the place it is comfy for me to put on all of it race,” Blaney stated. “It’s useful sporting that factor. … The info they get off that stuff is large of what we undergo in a success like that.”

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years masking motorsports, together with the previous 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass, and join the FOX Sports NASCAR Newsletter with Bob Pockrass.