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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 14: Ryan Preece, driver of the #60 Kroger/Viva Towels Ford, looks on in his car during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

NASCAR penalty controversy continues to grow after RFK Racing officially appealed the punishment given to Ryan Preece. This followed his Texas crash with Ty Gibbs during the Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. NASCAR announced that Preece received a 25-point penalty and a $50,000 fine after officials reviewed the Lap 101 incident involving the No. 60 Ford and the No. 54 Toyota.

The contact sent Gibbs spinning into the SAFER barrier and ended his race with a 36th-place finish. NASCAR stated that race footage, SMT data, and radio communication helped officials determine the move violated Sections 4.3 and 4.4.A of the NASCAR Rule Book. The NASCAR penalty also dropped Preece from 12th to 13th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, leaving him 38 points above the playoff cut line.

Ryan Preece Penalty Sparks More NASCAR Penalty Controversy

The Ryan Preece penalty became one of the biggest stories from Texas Motor Speedway because of comments made over team radio earlier in the race. During Stage 1, Preece responded with anger after racing in close proximity to Gibbs.

“All right, when I get to that 54, I’m done with him. [Expletive] idiot. That car is so [expletive] fast, pisses me off. I can’t stand when idiots like him have fast race cars where they can do stupid [expletive] and get away with it. End of rant,” Preece said.

NASCAR later reviewed those comments while investigating the Texas crash. Officials concluded that the penalty on Ryan Preece was necessary because the contact appeared intentional under NASCAR rules.

Preece later explained his actions during an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. He pointed to previous incidents between himself and Gibbs while discussing the crash.

“There are people that you know you can race with respect around and cut breaks to,” Preece said. “So for me, it was more along the lines of he pretty much was very close to clear getting into Turn 3, and I could lift, but I didn’t.”

Preece also denied intentionally wrecking Gibbs.

“Ultimately, I didn’t feel like I hit. I feel like I stayed right on him. He got loose and from there on, unfortunately, he wrecked.”

The Ryan Preece penalty now carries major importance in the NASCAR playoff standings as the season continues.

RFK Racing Appeal Adds Pressure to NASCAR Penalty Decision

RFK Racing confirmed on Thursday that it would challenge the NASCAR penalty through the appeals process. The organization issued a public statement in support of its driver as it prepared to present evidence before the National Motorsports Appeals Panel.

“RFK Racing has decided to appeal the penalties issued by NASCAR against Ryan Preece,” the team stated. “We appreciate the opportunity to share our findings with the National Motorsports Appeals Panel at the appropriate time.”

RFK Racing reportedly believes aerodynamic issues contributed to the Texas crash and plans to use telemetry evidence during the hearing. The NASCAR penalty controversy also increased after comparisons emerged involving Kyle Busch and John Hunter Nemechek during another incident at Texas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR did not penalize Busch after officials reviewed telemetry and radio communication connected to that crash. Officials stated they found no proof of intentional contact in Busch’s case.

Ryan Preece vs Ty Gibbs Incident Keeps NASCAR Playoff Battle Tight

The Ryan Preece vs Ty Gibbs incident continues to affect the NASCAR playoff standings as both drivers fight for strong positions during the 2026 season. Gibbs responded publicly after the Texas crash but remained calm when discussing the incident.

After the race, Gibbs reposted Preece’s radio comments on social media and wrote, “Hmm, at least he is honest.”

In another video response, Gibbs added, “I’ll get him another time.”

The NASCAR penalty controversy surrounding the Ryan Preece vs Ty Gibbs clash remains active as RFK Racing waits for the official appeal hearing date. NASCAR has not released further comments since the appeal announcement.