NASCAR appeals panel denies Ryan Preece penalty reduction

It is a tough result for RFK Racing. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel has officially upheld the behavioral penalties against Ryan Preece, confirming the $50,000 fine and 25-point deduction in the Cup Series driver standings. The decision follows a Wednesday hearing where panel members Tom DeLoach, Dixon Johnston, and Lake Speed reviewed the incident that occurred during the Texas Motor Speedway race.

The contact occurred on the 101st of 267 laps between the No. 60 Ford of Preece and the No. 54 Toyota driven by Ty Gibbs. NASCAR Vice President of Racing Communications Mike Forde noted that Preece’s own post-race comments—where he admitted he was not going to cut his competitor a break due to past issues—played a significant role in the initial penalty. While RFK Racing expressed their clear disappointment in a statement on X, standing by their driver and their argument, the ruling remains unchanged. Preece, who currently holds the 16th position in the Cup Series standings, now faces the possibility of filing a final appeal.