Ryan Blaney says Ryan Preece ‘had every right to retaliate’ in Texas race

Ryan Blaney said Tuesday that Ryan Preece had “every right to retaliate” against him for a move late in last weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway but questioned the hit that sent him into the wall.

Blaney was 15th and Preece was 16th on Lap 180 of the 276-lap race before Preece’s contact sent Blaney into the wall. Blaney finished 33rd. Preece finished 12th.

Ryan Preece drives the no. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has been racing in the Cup Series for six years and has participated in 159 races with 12 Top-10s to his name. Preece started his Cup Series with JTG Daugherty Racing and went to race with them until the 2021 season.

His team suffered with performance and funding which led to a loss of seat in the Cup Series for Preece. He revived his Cup Series ambitions with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2023. Preece achieved 1 Top-5 finish and 1 Top-10 finish in 2023. He placed 23rd in the drivers standings for the 2023 Cup Series.