Ryan Preece has brought new attention to driver conduct in NASCAR after making strong statements about his so-called middle finger policy during an interview on Jeff Gluck’s 12 Questions series. In his candid response, Preece expressed frustration with drivers who cite “learning” as an excuse for mistakes at the national level, stating that those competing in NASCAR’s top three series have no reason to be, in his words, “an a**.”
Since joining Roush-Fenway-Keselowski Racing’s No. 60 Ford at the start of the 2025 season, Ryan Preece has faced intense pressure to perform. Despite some highlights—a third-place finish at Las Vegas and three total top-ten results including at Martinsville and Homestead-Miami—his year has not been without controversy. Notably, his second-place finish at Talladega was revoked after officials discovered an illegal rear spoiler, a stinging reminder of the sport’s strict technical rules.
Preece, a 34-year-old from Connecticut and 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, has had a challenging run in the Cup Series since his 2015 debut. He moved to RFK Racing after Stewart-Haas Racing’s closure in 2024, knowing that expectations were high for the Ford camp. The struggle to achieve consistency remains clear, but Preece’s blunt takes have put him in the NASCAR spotlight in new ways.
When discussing safety, Ryan Preece has not held back either, especially after surviving two major airborne crashes at Daytona in back-to-back years. He urged NASCAR to address ongoing safety issues, telling Motorsport.com that tweaks like removing grass from the backstretch after the 2023 accident were not enough. Following his harrowing 2024 Daytona 500 crash with Christopher Bell, Preece insisted that more aerodynamic solutions are necessary, highlighting both his concern for safety and his willingness to challenge the status quo.
Ryan Preece’s direct approach and refusal to accept “learning” as an excuse sets a tense tone within the garage, igniting debate about accountability and preparation among drivers. As the season unfolds, his opinions may influence NASCAR’s culture, pushing others to reconsider accepted excuses and increasing scrutiny on driver readiness at the highest levels of the sport.
