Latest news with #Preece
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR: Austin Cindric, Ford win at Talladega on a last-lap pass as Logano, Preece DQ'ed
TALLADEGA, Ala. — The final laps of the Jack Links 500 turned into an all-out Ford-vs.-Chevy battle, and when the checkered flag flew, Ford's Austin Cindric and Ryan Preece held off Chevy's Kyle Larson and William Byron in a photo finish. Cindric, who snapped a 30-race winless streak, won by about a yard — or 0.022 seconds on the clock — just holding off Preece as the pack approached lapped traffic. "That bright yellow car looks great up front. I'm thankful for everyone's support," Cindric said after the race. "Having a photo finish at Talladega, to be able to do it, get in the playoffs in front of this amazing crowd on a beautiful day in Alabama." UPDATE: The cars of Preece and Joey Logano were both disqualified after post-race inspections. Logano had finished fifth. The cars will now be scored in 38th and 39th place, respectively. There's an unspoken subtext to every Talladega race: The Big One. The massive, high-banked superspeedway provides perfect conditions for enormous, field-swallowing wrecks. They're the kind of wrecks that both horrify and entice viewers, even if nobody really wants to admit it. This time around, while there were 67 lead changes and 23 leaders over the course of the race, the Big One didn't happen, setting up a final sprint to the finish. There were only four cautions the entire race, two of which were for stage endings, a remarkably "clean" Talladega outing. For the first two stages, the only wrecks were relatively minor errors of judgment and execution. On lap 43, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch and Ryan Blaney got tangled up during an attempted move onto pit road: Trouble coming to pit road for Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch! 👀 — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 27, 2025 Nine laps later, Christopher Bell hit the wall hard following a push from Denny Hamlin: A BIG hit for Christopher Bell. He's dropped the window net and let his team know he's okay. — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 27, 2025 "Denny didn't do anything wrong," Bell said after getting out of the car. "You have to push, you have to push to be successful. It's a product of the cars we race with this rules package.' The opening stages were as routine as Talladega gets; although the field ran as much as four-wide, the mistakes were few. Larson ended up winning the first stage, and Bubba Wallace the second. Aside from the early collisions that took out some of the race favorites, the only fireworks came from Joey Logano's microphone. Incensed that Cindric, his teammate, didn't push him to a stage win, he lit up his radio: "Way to go Austin, way to go, you dumb [expletive]! Way to [expletive]ing go,' Logano bellowed. 'What a stupid [expletive]. You just gave it to him. Gave a Toyota a stage win. Nice job. Way to go. What a [expletive]." "That was all I could do not to wreck Joey,' Cindric protested, perhaps thinking of the Hamlin push that sent Bell into the wall. 'I was obviously trying to stay there, I was trying not to wreck everybody." Logano, Ty Gibbs and Chase Briscoe were among the lap leaders; Anthony Alfredo, driving for Beard Motorsports, even managed a few laps at the front of the pack. As the laps wound down, a Chevy brigade of Byron, Larson and Alex Bowman challenged Ford's Cindric for the lead. Cindric held the low line while Byron led the high line. Preece, a fellow Ford driver, slid high alongside Cindric for the final few laps, setting up the furious finish. The Chevy contingent opted not to make a move into a third lane to catch Cindric and Preece, in part because of the lapped traffic right in front of the pack. That left Cindric and Preece free to duel one another for the victory, and Cindric came out on top. "I don't think there was anything I could have done on the final lap," Larson said. "I needed something else to kind of happen, maybe them blocking each other or something." Byron still leads the season standings with 388 points; Larson moved past Denny Hamlin into second place. Cindric moved into 15th place, up seven spots, thanks to his victory. After the race, Preece's car was found to fail Rule 14.5.8.F, having three shims instead of the required two, while Logano's car violated Rules 14.5.8.E and 14.1.P as it was missing a spoiler bolt. Team Penske indicated it will not appeal the disqualifications. 'The No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang was disqualified following post-race inspection at Talladega today. One of the 18 bolts on the surface of the spoiler that connect to the base was found to be loose, and NASCAR penalized the team as a result. This was not intentional and happened throughout the course of the race event. Team Penske accepts the disqualification.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ryan Preece Explodes After Invisible Cone Penalty Wrecks All-Star Bid
Ryan Preece was one restart away from a shot at NASCAR's $1 million All-Star Race when a barely visible track marking wiped it all away — and his response left no doubt how he felt. Preece, driving the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford, surged to second late in the All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway, poised to race his way into the main event. Advertisement But NASCAR hit him with a penalty for crossing the 'Choose Cone' commitment line — a painted V on the track nearly obscured by rubber from earlier events. The result: he was sent to the back, ending his chances and setting off a dramatic meltdown. 'Ultimately, we had a fast… Ford Mustang,' Preece said in a raw post-race interview. 'Sorry, I'm just really, really [expletive] pissed. So, I mean that, at least we could, a rule's a rule, but… I don't know.' Ryan Preece before the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The incident became the flashpoint of the night. Preece, visibly furious, marched to pit road, grabbed an orange traffic cone, and slammed it on the inside wall — a silent protest that quickly went viral. Advertisement NASCAR responded by repainting the Choose Cone marking before the All-Star Race, but for Preece, the damage was already done. 'You can't see it,' he explained. 'So I just hooked a hard left going across the line, figuring it's in that area. If you have a situation like that, put a cone out there so we can see it.' The penalty reignited criticism of NASCAR's officiating, especially regarding track visibility and rule enforcement. Preece's crew and fans argued the call was avoidable — and that NASCAR's reactive fix came too late. Now 15th in points, Preece leaves Wilkesboro with more questions than answers. But his fire — and frustration — may have just forced NASCAR to take another look at how it draws the lines that define a driver's fate. Related: Joey Logano Sends Blunt Message After NASCAR All-Star Caution Costs Him the Win
San Francisco Chronicle
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- San Francisco Chronicle
Carson Hocevar wins All-Star Open; Nemechek, Gragson also advance to All-Star Race main event
Capitalizing on pit strategy, Carson Hocevar led the final 46 laps to win the All-Star Open and advance into the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Runner-up John Hunter Nemechek also advanced to the main event by finishing second in the 100-lap warmup race. Noah Gragson won an online fan vote to earn the final transfer spot to the All-Star Race, whose field will include 20 other drivers competing for $1 million over 250 laps Sunday night. Hocevar started second in the All-Star Open and took the lead in his No. 77 Chevrolet with a two-tire pit stop during the yellow flag for a halfway break. The Spire Motorsports driver cruised to a 0.697-second win over Nemechek, whose No. 42 Toyota charged from sixth to second over the final seven laps. 'It's super big for this team,' Hocevar said. 'It's great to win, especially being challenged by tires there. I had my hands full. We definitely have to go to work here on our race car because I didn't really like it. But it's a good sign that we didn't like it and we were still pretty quick there.' Ty Dillon finished third, followed by Erik Jones and Michael McDowell. Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen finished 13th after leading the first 54 laps on the 0.625-mile oval. The New Zealand native, who is in his first full Cup Series season after winning three Supercar championships in Australia, fell from first to sixth on a four-tire pit stop during the halfway caution. 'I don't know whether to smile or cry,' said van Gisbergen, who is ranked 35th in the points standings with one top 10 this season. 'It's been a dismal year for us, but I feel like we're getting better every week. This shows it. It was awesome to lead some laps. I was out front driving like a grandma and felt like it was easy. We're getting better.' Costly penalty Ryan Preece finished 11th in the Open after being sent to the rear from second place on a restart with 17 laps remaining. Preece said he unintentionally ran over the commitment line before which drivers must choose whether they are restarting on the inside or outside lane. 'It's really nonexistent from inside the car,' Preece said. 'You can't see it. So I just hooked a left going across the line, figuring it's in that area. I'm frustrated because if you have a situation like that, put a cone out there so we can see it. Our Ford Mustang was super fast, and I think we were the only one that was making some waves. It's heartbreaking to have a run like that taken away.' NASCAR repainted the restart commitment line before the start of the All-Star Race. More money The All-Star Race winner's share has been $1 million since the 2003 event, and some drivers have grumbled that an increase for inflation is well overdue. 'I definitely think it should get raised,' 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney said this week. 'That's the only thing about the All-Star Race I'd probably change. I don't want to get greedy, but I think you can raise it to $3 million.' Bubba Wallace said he'd suggest $5 million but would be good for a bump to $3 million. 'They've got more TV money, so why not,' Wallace said, referring to NASCAR's media rights raising to $1.1 billion annually in a deal starting this year. Up next The Cup Series will race May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season. Christopher Bell won last year's race, which was shortened from 600 to 374 miles by rain. Kyle Larson missed the 2024 race after arriving late because the Indianapolis 500 was delayed by rain. The Hendrick Motorsports star again will attempt to become the fifth driver to race the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. ___
NBC Sports
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
Ryan Preece upset about All-Star Open penalty on restart commitment box: 'You can't see it'
Ryan Preece was angry after his shot at making the All-Star Race was by a costly penalty in the All-Star Open. His No. 60 Ford was running second before a restart with 17 laps remaining but was sent to the rear for rolling over the restart commitment box. Drivers must commit to choosing the inside or outside lane before reaching the restart commitment box, but Preece said it was difficult to see the zone. Nate Ryan, 'It's really nonexistent from inside the car,' the Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing driver told FS1's Regan Smith. 'You can't see it. So I just hooked a hard left going acoss the line, figuring it's in that area. I'm frustrated because if you have a situation like that, put a cone out there so we can see it.' Preece had gained seven positions since a four-tire pit stop during the halfway caution, putting him in good position to race All-Star Open winner Caron Hocevar, who had taken the lead on a two-tire stop. 'Our Ford Mustang was super fast, could run in the way top, get around guys and I think we were the only one that was making some waves. Frusrated, man. We were in position here. Heartbreaking to have a heartbreaking run like that taken away by someone in the (NASCAR scoring) tower.' After the Open ended, NASCAR officials had track workers immediately repaint the commitment box, whose colors seemed to fade during the Modified race earlier Sunday.
Mint
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
Carson Hocevar wins All-Star Open; Nemechek, Gragson also advance to All-Star Race main event
Capitalizing on pit strategy, Carson Hocevar led the final 46 laps to win the All-Star Open and advance into the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Runner-up John Hunter Nemechek also advanced to the main event by finishing second in the 100-lap warmup race. Noah Gragson won an online fan vote to earn the final transfer spot to the All-Star Race, whose field will include 20 other drivers competing for $1 million over 250 laps Sunday night. Hocevar started second in the All-Star Open and took the lead in his No. 77 Chevrolet with a two-tire pit stop during the yellow flag for a halfway break. The Spire Motorsports driver cruised to a 0.697-second win over Nemechek, whose No. 42 Toyota charged from sixth to second over the final seven laps. 'It's super big for this team,' Hocevar said. 'It's great to win, especially being challenged by tires there. I had my hands full. We definitely have to go to work here on our race car because I didn't really like it. But it's a good sign that we didn't like it and we were still pretty quick there.' Ty Dillon finished third, followed by Erik Jones and Michael McDowell. Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen finished 13th after leading the first 54 laps on the 0.625-mile oval. The New Zealand native, who is in his first full Cup Series season after winning three Supercar championships in Australia, fell from first to sixth on a four-tire pit stop during the halfway caution. 'I don't know whether to smile or cry,' said van Gisbergen, who is ranked 35th in the points standings with one top 10 this season. 'It's been a dismal year for us, but I feel like we're getting better every week. This shows it. It was awesome to lead some laps. I was out front driving like a grandma and felt like it was easy. We're getting better.' Ryan Preece finished 11th in the Open after being sent to the rear from second place on a restart with 17 laps remaining. Preece said he unintentionally ran over the commitment line before which drivers must choose whether they are restarting on the inside or outside lane. 'It's really nonexistent from inside the car,' Preece said. 'You can't see it. So I just hooked a left going across the line, figuring it's in that area. I'm frustrated because if you have a situation like that, put a cone out there so we can see it. Our Ford Mustang was super fast, and I think we were the only one that was making some waves. It's heartbreaking to have a run like that taken away.' NASCAR repainted the restart commitment line before the start of the All-Star Race. The All-Star Race winner's share has been $1 million since the 2003 event, and some drivers have grumbled that an increase for inflation is well overdue. 'I definitely think it should get raised,' 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney said this week. 'That's the only thing about the All-Star Race I'd probably change. I don't want to get greedy, but I think you can raise it to $3 million.' Bubba Wallace said he'd suggest $5 million but would be good for a bump to $3 million. 'They've got more TV money, so why not,' Wallace said, referring to NASCAR's media rights raising to $1.1 billion annually in a deal starting this year. The Cup Series will race May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season. Christopher Bell won last year's race, which was shortened from 600 to 374 miles by rain. Kyle Larson missed the 2024 race after arriving late because the Indianapolis 500 was delayed by rain. The Hendrick Motorsports star again will attempt to become the fifth driver to race the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
