Ryan Preece’s relationship with Daytona International Speedway has been anything but ordinary. Over the last two seasons, he has endured two violent flips that etched his name into the track’s turbulent modern history. His crashes became symbols of both NASCAR’s safety progress and its persistent aerodynamic challenges. Now, paired with a vibrant new summertime paint scheme, fans are weighing in with a mix of admiration, humor, and unease as Preece’s Daytona legacy continues to build with each return.
Key Highlights
Ryan Preece has endured two airborne crashes at Daytona since 2023.
His 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400 accident led to overnight hospitalization and changes to the track’s backstretch.
A second violent flip came during the 2025 Daytona 500 while racing for RFK Racing.
Preece has voiced concerns about the Next Gen car’s vulnerability to flips.
Fans reacted strongly to his new Daytona paint scheme, tying it to his notorious crash history.
The 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Crash
Preece’s first brush with Daytona’s brutal side came during the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400. Driving the No. 41 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing, he was caught in contact that sent him spinning into the backstretch grass. As the car dug in, it vaulted into the air, flipping end-over-end in a stunning spectacle. By the time the wreck ended, the machine had flipped nearly a dozen times before finally landing upright.
Preece was transported to a local hospital for overnight observation, escaping serious injury but shaken by the violence of the incident. The aftermath led NASCAR to pave over the backstretch grass, a direct response to how the surface contributed to the launch. The change signaled a recognition of how the track itself could exacerbate crash severity. Yet for Preece, the scar from that night carried into every subsequent lap at Daytona.
The 2025 Daytona 500 Flip
Less than two years later, Preece once again found himself airborne at the same venue. Now competing with RFK Racing in the No. 60 Ford Mustang, he was swept into a late-race wreck during the 2025 Daytona 500. A bump draft involving Christopher Bell clipped Preece’s car nose-first, sending it into a wheelstand.
With air catching the flat underbody, the Mustang launched skyward, flipped onto its roof, and skidded violently across Turn 3 before settling back on its wheels. Though he walked away unharmed, the crash underscored the vulnerabilities of NASCAR’s Next Gen car design. Preece himself likened the vehicles to unstable boards in the wind.
“We’re getting really close to somebody not being able to.” – Ryan Preece
The repeat nature of his accidents only deepened the urgency of his warning, especially as other drivers such as Harrison Burton, Josh Berry, and Chris Buescher endured similar airborne scares.
Aerodynamic Worries and Driver Concerns
The two Daytona flips have fueled an ongoing debate about the stability of NASCAR’s Next Gen car. Designed with a flat underbody and reduced ground clearance, the car has shown a worrying tendency to lift when air pressure builds in the wrong conditions. Preece’s flips, both spectacular and dangerous, illustrated the extreme end of that vulnerability. His reference to the cars being “like a sheet of plywood” captured the unease felt by drivers who see the problem firsthand.
Though NASCAR has taken steps such as paving grass areas and reviewing aerodynamic tweaks, Preece’s warning adds weight to a growing concern: one more wrong angle could lead to a crash with tragic consequences. His survival of two flips in such a short span highlighted both the strength of modern safety systems and the thin margin for error still present in the sport.
Fan Reactions to the Summertime Scheme
As Preece prepared for his Daytona return, RFK Racing unveiled a colorful Little Bites and Capri Sun paint scheme on the No. 60 Ford, marketed as the “perfect summertime snack combo.” Fans quickly linked the eye-catching design to his Daytona legacy, sparking a wave of reactions online.
“This will look great flipping down the backstretch.” – Fan reaction
“Hopefully he stays wheels down this time.” – Fan reaction
“Beautiful rocket ship.” – Fan reaction
“Can it fly?” – Fan reaction“Let’s keep this one on the ground 🤞🤞🤞.” – Fan reaction
The PERFECT summertime snack combo🧑🍳
Ryan Preece is bringing confetti (little bites) with him to Daytona🎊 pic.twitter.com/TNU75FKmwV
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) August 18, 2025
The blend of humor, admiration, and nervousness reflected how Preece’s Daytona history has become intertwined with his reputation. For fans, the scheme stood out as bold and attractive — yet impossible to separate from the shadow of his notorious crashes.
News in Brief: Ryan Preece’s Daytona Wreck Fan React
Ryan Preece has endured two dramatic airborne crashes at Daytona International Speedway in less than two years, first in the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400 and again in the 2025 Daytona 500. Both incidents showcased the troubling aerodynamic tendencies of NASCAR’s Next Gen car, which Preece compared to “a sheet of plywood.” His warnings highlighted concerns for driver safety, while NASCAR made adjustments such as paving over the backstretch grass. Fans reacted with humor and worry to Preece’s new summertime Little Bites and Capri Sun paint scheme.
ALSO READ: Ryan Preece’s Breakout Season: Can RFK Racing’s Rising Star Secure a Playoff Spot in 2025?
