Ryan Preece shares message after being hospitalized in scary wreck at Daytona

Ryan Preece posted a message Saturday night on X, formerly known as Twitter, following his scary late-race crash in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona that sent him to the hospital.

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

Stewart-Haas Racing sent out a message of their own Sunday on X, providing more context about Preece’s stay at a local hospital in Florida.

The team said more information will come Sunday afternoon.

“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.”

If you want to be a race car driver, you better be tough.

Dammit. Fast @racechoice @FordPerformance Mustang. I’m coming back.

— Ryan Preece (@RyanPreece_) August 27, 2023

The wreck happened with about 10 laps to go in the race Saturday night at the famous Daytona International Speedway.

Preece’s No. 41 Ford received a bump from Erik Jones, which caused him to lose control of the car as it angled towards the infield on the left. Preece hit teammate Chase Briscoe as he went towards the infield and then went airborne on the grass.

His car rolled over at least 10 times but it landed on its wheels. That allowed Preece to leave the vehicle under his own power before NASCAR AMR Safety team helped him to the infield care unit.

After being treated and evaluated there, Preece was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center.

He finished the race in 31st place.

Chris Buescher won the Coke Zero Sugar 400, the last race of the NASCAR regular season before the playoffs. It was his third victory of the season — and third win in five races — following triumphs at the Cook Out 400 at Richmond and the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan.

The other big winner from the night was Bubba Wallace, who claimed the final spot in the 16-race playoff field.

The first 15 spots in the playoffs were already set entering the night with Wallace holding on to a narrow lead for the final spot. He nailed down his playoff berth — which is the first of his career — with a 12th-place finish and a repeat victory from Buescher.

The playoffs start next weekend with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.