NASCAR Fines Ryan Preece a Whopping $50K Over Ty Gibbs Wreck but Overlooks Kyle Busch Drama

The NASCAR penalty report for the Texas race weekend is in and it has some surprises. Sanctioning body has fined RFK Racing veteran Ryan Preece $50,000 thousand for the wrecking Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs. He was found guilty under Sections 4.3 and 4.4.A of the NASCAR Rule Book and will be docked 25 driver points as well.

No. 60 RFK Racing Ford driver found himself in hot waters over his move on the No:54 Toyota on lap 101 of the Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY. On the turn three of the lap, he crashed into the JGR driver. Reviewing the incident and the comments from the veteran driver on team radio, including a radio rant calling the TRD driver an idiot, was enough for the sport to brand it as pre-meditated move that deserve punishment.

While the Ryan Preece incident got the attention, Kyle Busch got away with no punishment for wrecking John Hunter Nemecheck towards the end of the race and hinting via social media that the move was intentional. Despite the likes of Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick urging the sanctioning body to take a common-sense approach in potentially penalizing the RCR veteran, the sport decided not to.

NASCAR’s Mike Forde, on Hauler Talk podcast, said they viewed Preece as intentional (just like Hamlin-Chastain at Phoenix, he said he’s going to do it). On Kyle Busch, car damaged, SMT data showed steering wheel turned left just to go straight and no SMT data showing intentional.

Bob Pockrass reported via X.

NASCAR's Mike Forde, on Hauler Talk podcast, said they viewed Preece as intentional (just like Hamlin-Chastain at Phoenix, he said he's going to do it). On Kyle Busch, car damaged, SMT data showed steering wheel turned left just to go straight and no SMT data showing intentional. https://t.co/JB6d0HZcX6

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 5, 2026

Though the management has let the No:8 RCR drive walk free without punishment, they have made a note on Busch’s recent tendency to get involved in questionable wrecks. As reported, the leadership have decided to have a conversation with the veteran over the recent pattern and give him a warning that they won’t as lenient as they are now for the third time.

As far as Kyle Busch, NASCAR’s Mike Forde did say Brad Moran will have a talk with Busch because it is twice in a month where they gave him benefit of the doubt as far as wrecking someone (Herbst at Bristol, Nemechek at Texas) and the benefit of the doubt is running out for him.

Bob Pockrass reported.

As far as Kyle Busch, NASCAR's Mike Forde did say Brad Moran will have a talk with Busch because it is twice in a month where they gave him benefit of the doubt as far as wrecking someone (Herbst at Bristol, Nemechek at Texas) and the benefit of the doubt is running out for him. https://t.co/TJrq5mp2xy

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 5, 2026

Ryan Preece admits he didn’t cut a break for Ty Gibbs

On his interview midweek with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Ryan Preece admitted that he made some intentional aggressive move on Ty Gibbs. He pointed out that he deliberately didn’t gave a break to the JGR driver, owing to their earlier run in the race that the veteran saw as disrespectful racing.

So, for me, it was more along the lines of he pretty much was very close to clear getting into (Turn) 3, and I could lift, but I didn’t. I was right there and I felt like he came down, and I was not going to cut him a break because in the past, him and I have had problems.

Ryan Preece said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Via motorsport.com).

The duo has the issue if having short fuses and that’s the main reason why they have found themselves in similar situations many a times in the top division. If the No:60 driver had made a different choice, that crash that ruined both of their races wouldn’t have happened.

So, I’ve got a little bit of a short fuse with him and I, with how we’re racing. And that was just one of those situations that, could I cut him a break? Probably could have, but I didn’t. And ultimately, I didn’t feel like I hit him. I felt like I stayed right on him, and he got loose, and from there on, unfortunately, he wrecked.

Ryan Preece added.

The 25 points deduction is a massive hit to Preece who is doing everything he could to hold onto the playoff spot and with many big-name drivers behind him in the table owing to poor form, the one moment madness might cost his team millions. They need to secure more consistent top-10 finishes if not a win to offset the loss of points.

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