Just last weekend at the Daytona regular-season finale, NASCAR fans witnessed a horrifying crash involving Stewart Haas Racing driver Ryan Preece. He wrecked out after contact from behind, proceeding to barrel roll violently several times before coming to a halt. Thankfully, he was able to get out of the car but had to be transported to a nearby hospital for further evaluation.
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As we head into this weekend’s first playoff race at Darlington, there seems to be positive news coming out of the SHR garage. The driver of the #41 Ford Mustang recently delivered an update following his horror crash resonating, with his team owner Tony Stewart’s school of thought.
Ryan Preece delivers an update for the race at Darlington
Remember last week, when Preece sent out a tweet over his social media, eager to return to racing once again? Well, the SHR driver recently spoke in a video shared by his team revealing details about getting back in the race car right away.
During the short clip shared by SHR, Preece stated, “No bullsh*t. I will see you at Darlington. I mean I am sitting right here, I’m completely fine and you know I feel good. And obviously, I am ready to get to Darlington.” Preece narrated his choice to get back in the race cars as soon as possible somewhat reminiscent of how Tony Stewart would have reacted if he was in a similar situation.
He told us he’d be back. pic.twitter.com/6xREzad4V0
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) September 1, 2023
Moreover, growing up around all of these old-school racing drivers taught the SHR driver that a racing driver should be tough. He added, “That mentality as a racer, it was instilled in me and that’s what I wanna be as a race car driver is somebody who’s tough. Somebody who is gonna do whatever it takes, not only as a racer but as a person.”
“This is the sport that I have given so much to. Something I worked my entire life for, I am not stepping aside. And that’s not who I am as a person. That’s not who I am as a racer. It would take a lot for somebody to get me out of that racecar.”
Preece cleared to race at Darlington this weekend
It requires a lot of courage for a driver to be able to get back in the race car just a week after surviving a harrowing experience. But Preece seems determined enough to get back in and race as soon as possible.
Fortunately, he has been cleared to return to racing at Darlington this Sunday. Although, he would not be racing for playoff points, since he did not qualify. Nonetheless, it would still be amazing to see him back where he belongs – in the race car.
The race at Darlington would be the first of three races that decide the playing field for the round of 12 elimination thereafter. Kevin Harvick is the only SHR driver who has been able to make it to the playoffs this year in an otherwise disappointing year for the outfit.
