- Fans slam NASCAR decision to hammer Ryan Preece while clearing Kyle Busch.
- Racing legend says that if Busch wasn’t penalised, Preece should have escaped too..
- Most critics argued NASCAR over-penalised Preece for his heated radio comments.
Two veterans, both trying to claw their way back into Victory Lane, yet only one paid the price. That was the story coming out of the Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway, where NASCAR’s post-race ruling quickly became the bigger headline than the race itself.
While Ryan Preece was hit with a $50,000 fine and a 25-point penalty for what officials deemed an “intentional” wreck of Ty Gibbs, Kyle Busch walked away without punishment despite triggering a late-race incident of his own. Ipso facto, the contrasting calls didn’t sit well with fans, and only added fuel to the fire once Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighed in with a take that echoed much of the frustration.
‘Don’t agree with this one’ – Dale Earnhardt Jr. sets the record straight on NASCAR’s Ryan Preece Texas ruling
It didn’t take long for the NASCAR community to weigh in, and the tone was anything but subtle. Across social media, frustration poured in as enthusiasts tried to make sense of why Preece was singled out while Busch walked free.
A large section of the fanbase pointed to what they saw as a contradiction. To them, Busch’s contact with Nemechek looked just as aggressive, if not more intentional, than Preece’s Lap 102 move on the No. 54. That’s where the anger stemmed from. If both incidents ended with a car into the wall, why was only one driver held accountable?
In the aftermath of the ruling, two-time Daytona winner and fandom’s most adored veteran Earnhardt Jr. broke his silence and shared his thoughts.
“I honestly don’t agree with this one,” the JR Motorsports co-owner stated, “I didn’t think either one would get penalized.” According to the 51-year-old, NASCAR’s decision appeared to hinge more on what the No. 60 driver said and implied than the wreck itself.
Adding on to his point, he noted, “I think if you’re not going to penalize Kyle, which I didn’t think they would, I don’t think you can penalize Preece.” Many fans and media members felt Busch’s contact was the more severe of the two. However, while Busch denied any intent, publishing SMT data and stats online, Preece’s own comments cornered him.
NASCAR Nation implodes
The phrase “It’s bullsh*t” became a recurring sentiment, not tied to any one voice but echoing across comment sections. In hindsight, some fans argued NASCAR leaned too heavily on Preece’s radio chatter, suggesting that frustration in the heat of the moment shouldn’t outweigh what actually happens on track.
Others went a step further, calling it a perception issue in which the punishment felt inconsistent, even if NASCAR believed the evidence justified it, “It’s bullshit man. We take one step forward and two steps back. Let them have personality, but don’t. Drivers should be allowed to police each other. That’s where rivalries come from.”
“This is bullshit what they are doing to Preece! Let them police themselves!”
There were, of course, some who defended the ruling, pointing out that intent matters and that Preece’s own words didn’t exactly help his case. But those voices were largely drowned out by the broader backlash, as the debate tilted heavily toward fairness and consistency.
Some netizens even took shots at the sanctioning body, deeming that while the former is striving hard to better its product overall, such rulings cast a shadow of doubt on racing officiating. Echoing the same, one user wrote, “Just when you think NASCAR is heading in the right direction they go and do some stupid sh*t like this..”
Fairness and consistency?
“Have at it, boys!….except for you Ryan. Here’s your bill,” wrote a second user this time putting sarcasm to good use.
There were, of course, some who defended the ruling, pointing out that intent matters and that Preece’s own words didn’t exactly help his case. But those voices were largely drowned out by the broader backlash, as the debate tilted heavily toward fairness and consistency.
“Appreciate that you always keep it real. Stuff like this is what keeps me in the sport. Drivers and other personality’s tied to the sport who are honest and say what it is,” opined one such user who commended Earnhardt Jr. for calling a spade a spade.
All that said, a few enthusiasts pointed to Preece’s radio comments, “Ryan Preece should have kept his mouth shut. I agree with Nascar.”
As for the No. 60 Ford driver, Preece, he takes the hit in the standings, slipping from 12th to 13th, while Busch rolls on untouched.
