Ryan Preece was transported to a local medical center, NASCAR said via NBC, after his No. 41 Ford flipped nearly a dozen times across the Daytona International Speedway infield in the late stages of the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
Riding the high line, Preece got loose after potentially getting bumped, and his car swerved down toward the infield, catching up teammate Chase Briscoe in the No. 14 in the process. Preece’s car took flight when he hit the infield grass, bouncing on his hood and then spinning several times through the air. The car eventually landed on its wheels and appeared to be on fire when it finally came to a stop.
Medical personnel rushed out to attend to Preece. He was able to get out of the car with some help and was then placed on a gurney and taken by ambulance to the infield care center. He was hospitalized overnight.
Stewart-Haas Racing said Sunday morning that Preece is “awake, alert and mobile” and “has been communicating with family and friends.”
He will be evaluated by medical personnel again Sunday, the team said, adding that another update is expected in the afternoon.
Preece took to social media with a pledge: “I’m coming back.”
“If you want to be a race car driver, you better be tough,” Preece wrote.
The crash with six laps to go sent the race to overtime. Chris Buescher won the race and Bubba Wallace claimed the final playoff spot.
Contributing: Associated Press
