Ryan Preece released from hospital after Daytona wreck

Ryan Preece was released from the hospital Sunday morning after a scary wreck Saturday night during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ Coke Zero Sugar 400 race at Daytona.

“Earlier this morning, Ryan Preece was discharged from Halifax Health Medical Center. He is on his way home to North Carolina,” Stewart-Haas Racing posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

It was the second statement the team released Sunday about Preece. The first one had been another positive update earlier in the morning.

“NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece will remain overnight at Halifax Health Medical Center for continued observation,” the team said. “The driver of the No. 41 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing is awake, alert and mobile and has been communicating with family and friends. Preece will undergo another evaluation by medical personnel later this morning.”

The crash occurred late in the race with about 10 laps to go after his car got bumped from the back and veered out to the infield. Preece’s No. 41 car rolled over at least 10 times on the grass before landing on its wheels.

Preece had posted a message to his fans Saturday night.

“If you want to be a race car driver, you better be tough. Dammit. Fast @racechoice @FordPerformance Mustang. I’m coming back,” Preece said.

He finished the race in 31st place, finishing the regular season with one top-five finish and in 26th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings. His top-five finish came at the the Cook Out 400 at Richmond when he came in fifth place. It was the second-best result of his career after a fourth place finish at the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400.

Chris Buescher won the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400 for his third victory in five races. He also took home the checkered flag at the Cook Out 400 at Richmond and the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan.

It was also a memorable race for Bubba Wallace, who claimed the final playoff spot with a 12th place finish and thanks to a repeat winner in Buescher. It is Wallace’s first time making the final field of 16 for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series playoffs.

“Proud to be locked into the playoffs. 23XI Racing, third year in, getting both cars in the playoffs. We’ve gone through a lot of trials and tribulations. So proud of the effort we put in,” Wallace said, via NASCAR.com.