The National Motorsports Appeals Panel (NMAP) has chosen to uphold the penalty handed to Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 60 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RFK Racing, following a run-in with Ty Gibbs at Texas Motor Speedway.
Gibbs and Preece tangled on Lap 101 of the NASCAR Cup Series event at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this month, when tight-quarters racing had the No. 60 right on the rear bumper of the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, sending him up the racetrack and into the SAFER Barrier, ending the No. 54’s day.
Preece argued that the spin wasn’t intentional and that he didn’t even touch Gibbs. However, NASCAR took issue with a radio message from the RFK Racing driver that said: “When I get to that No. 54, I’m done with him.”
On May 5, NASCAR issued a penalty of $50,000 and 25 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Points to Preece, saying that the Berlin, Connecticut-native violated the NASCAR Rule Book, specifically Section 4.3 NASCAR Member Conduct Guidelines: 4.4.A Penalty Options and Guidelines.
Upon hearing the testimony of both RFK Racing and NASCAR, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel decided that Ryan Preece did, indeed, violate the notated section of the Rule Book outlined in the Penalty Notice, and that NASCAR was fair to penalize him in that manner.
This, the three-person Panel, made up of Tom DeLoach, Dixon Johnston, and Lake Speed, has affirmed and upheld the original penalty assessed by NASCAR.
“Although not a unanimous decision, NASCAR and RFK Racing presented competing interpretations of common data. Neither side clearly proved their point, but Mr. Preece’s comments showed that he chose not to cut his competitor any breaks.”
In response to the decision, RFK Racing released a statement, which reads: “RFK Racing is extremely disappointed in today’s ruling by the National Motorsports Appeals Panel. We stand by Ryan Preece and believe our argument was fair, sound, and without question. We appreciate the forum provided by NASCAR to both provide detailed evidence and defend our stance through thoughtful data and digital evidence. Let’s get back to racing — see you in Nashville.”
PHOTO: John K. Harrelson, NKP for Ford Performance
