With the Daytona 500 less than a week away, NASCAR teams are busy preparing their cars for "The Great American Race" — and the grueling 36-race schedule that makes up the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. While all of the drivers are assuredly getting mentally prepped for the challenge of restrictor plate racing at Daytona, one driver in particular — Ryan Preece — is perhaps putting a little more focus on his preparation for the race.
For the first time since last August, NASCAR Cup cars are racing at Daytona. Preece finished that race in terrifying fashion by getting turned into the infield, going airborne, and flipping and barrel-rolling his car multiple times.
It was one of the most frightening and violent NASCAR crashes in recent memory. Although he was shaken and held overnight in a hospital for observation, Preece emerged unhurt from the wreckage and raced the following week.
Racing at Daytona for the first time since his big accident, Preece and the rest of the NASCAR field are returning to a safer 2.5-mile oval. NASCAR and Daytona track officials spent the offseason paving over the infield grass that sent his car airborne. With that extra peace of mind, Preece is ready to put any lingering fear behind him and chase after victory at NASCAR's most prestigious event.
"As a race car driver, I think we all understand the risks that we take," he told Motorsport.com's Jim Utter. "I chose this profession for a reason, so if I'm afraid to drive a race car and get the max potential I can, then I should probably retire and just quit. Going back now is going to be something where I get to drive through that tunnel and the goal afterward is obviously to try and win that race and put ourselves in the best position possible. At the same time, I want to be able to drive out of that tunnel on my own at the end of the day."
Preece is entering his second season driving for Stewart-Haas Racing. Last year, he struggled to 23rd position in the points standings. But both he and the team have high hopes going into the 2024 season, despite a disappointing performance at the season-opening Busch Light Clash exhibition race.
No matter where he finishes, here's hoping that Preece and the rest of the Daytona 500 starting lineup have an exciting — and safe — race to kick off the season.
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