A terrifying crash unfolded during the Daytona 500 on Sunday. NASCAR driver Ryan Preece’s car flew through the air, upside down, in a shocking accident. The scene was a nightmare. Sparks flew as Preece’s vehicle flipped, slamming back onto the track.
The moment of impact
It all began when Christopher Bell made contact with the wall. His car bounced back into the pack. The collision sent Preece’s car soaring, lifting the front end into the air. Seconds later, it flipped over.
As Preece’s car became airborne, he said it was eerily quiet. His thoughts immediately turned to his daughter. “When the car took off like that and it got real quiet, all I thought about was my daughter,” Preece shared after the crash. “I’m lucky to walk away. We’re getting real close to someone not walking away. So I’m very grateful.”
A dramatic scene
The wreck occurred with just four laps to go in the race. It came just hours after former President Donald Trump made an appearance at Daytona. Fox announcers were left stunned, exclaiming, “Good grief,” as the wreckage came to a halt. The damage to Preece’s car was extensive. His bumper was destroyed, and the rest of the vehicle was severely damaged. Smoke billowed from the wreck.
Emergency response teams rushed to the scene. They worked quickly to check on Preece’s condition. Miraculously, he was able to walk away. Still, the crash was a stark reminder of how dangerous NASCAR can be.
Preece’s troubling history at Daytona
This wasn’t the first time Preece had been involved in a terrifying crash at Daytona. Back in August 2023, he survived another shocking incident. His car flipped over 10 times during the Coke Zero Sugar 400. After losing control, Preece collided with Chase Briscoe. His car flipped repeatedly before coming to a stop upside down.
Late-race drama at Daytona
Despite the wrecks that knocked out several contenders, William Byron emerged victorious. He claimed his second straight Daytona 500 win. This makes him the first driver to achieve back-to-back wins since Denny Hamlin in 2019-2020. Byron, in the No. 24 Chevrolet, was in ninth place with just one lap remaining.
