Preece Ready to Get Back in the Car at Darlington After Frightening Crash at Daytona

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Ryan Preece had a message to ship, regardless of how unhealthy his eyes sorted his horrifying crash at Daytona final week.

“It is OK to not race,” the Stewart Haas Racing driver stated at Darlington on Saturday. “However it’s OK to race, and I feel that is what must be stated.”

Preece took questions publicly for the primary time since his horrifying accident, the place he went airborne and flipped over not less than 10 occasions earlier than coming to relaxation.

Preece received out of the automobile on his personal energy. He spent the night time on the hospital and earlier than midnight, was suggesting to anybody who would hear that he felt good and was able to go residence.

Preece, who was cleared to drive within the Southern 500 at Darlington on Sunday night time, will not be sore from the crash. His eyes are simply bloodshot and bruised.

“If I had complications or blurry imaginative and prescient or something like that that I felt I used to be endangering myself or anyone else right here, I would not be racing,” Preece stated behind his No. 41 hauler. “I’ve a household that I’ve to fret about as properly. That is my job, that is what I wish to do and I really feel full effective.”

That is outstanding given what Preece, 32, endured every week in the past.

He was in a line close to Daytona’s outdoors wall when he was bumped by Erik Jones and turned down into teammate Chase Briscoe. Preece quickly lifted off the bottom and commenced to flip over the grassy space on the backstretch.

Preece thought he would possibly’ve checked up a bit earlier than his wild trip.

“I’ve seen different interviews from drivers previously that as you get sideways and as you go within the air, it is will get actual quiet,” he stated. “After experiencing that, that is 100% true. Past that, all the pieces’s occurring so quick, you are simply flipping by means of the air. Till that trip stops, all you are fascinated about is simply attempting to include your self.

“You tense up and also you hope you are going to be OK,” he continued. “Which clearly I’m.”

NASCAR has stated the automobile’s security enhancements helped preserve Preece from extra critical laborious. The group will proceed to analyze causes, together with the potential of paving over some grass areas to maintain vehicles grounded.

Playoff factors chief William Byron stated Preece’s accident was one thing drivers hadn’t seen a lot in recent times. Byron, like all drivers, was glad Preece got here away in good situation and good spirits, indicators that issues of safety within the second 12 months of the Subsequent Gen automobile are bettering.

“We have made progress, however some parts of that crash that positively may’ve been higher,” Byron stated.

Preece thanked security personnel at Daytona and at Halifax Well being Medical Middle for his or her fast response and care he acquired.

The expertise hasn’t modified Preece’s opinion of what it takes to succeed.

“That is what we’re presupposed to be, we’re presupposed to be robust,” Preece stated. “And it is OK to be robust, it is OK to do these issues. I really feel good.”

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