DARLINGTON, S.C. — Ryan Preece had a message to ship, irrespective of how dangerous his eyes sorted his horrifying crash at Daytona final week.

“It is OK to not race,” the Stewart Haas Racing driver mentioned at Darlington on Saturday. “But it surely’s OK to race, and I feel that is what must be mentioned.”

Preece took questions publicly for the primary time since his horrifying accident, the place he went airborne and flipped over at the very least 10 occasions earlier than coming to relaxation.

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Preece acquired out of the automotive on his personal energy. He spent the night time on the hospital and earlier than midnight, was suggesting to anybody who would pay attention that he felt good and was able to go residence.

Preece, who was cleared to drive within the Southern 500 at Darlington on Sunday night time, will not be sore from the crash. His eyes are simply bloodshot and bruised.

“If I had complications or blurry imaginative and prescient or something like that that I felt I used to be endangering myself or anyone else right here, I would not be racing,” Preece mentioned behind his No. 41 hauler. “I’ve a household that I’ve to fret about as effectively. That is my job, that is what I need to do and I really feel full fantastic.”

That is exceptional given what Preece, 32, endured every week in the past.

He was in a line close to Daytona’s exterior wall when he was bumped by Erik Jones and turned down into teammate Chase Briscoe. Preece quickly lifted off the bottom and commenced to flip over the grassy space on the backstretch.

Preece thought he would possibly’ve checked up a bit earlier than his wild experience.

“I’ve seen different interviews from drivers previously that as you get sideways and as you go within the air, it is will get actual quiet,” he mentioned. “After experiencing that, that is 100% true. Past that, every part’s taking place so quick, you are simply flipping by the air. Till that experience stops, all you are fascinated about is simply making an attempt to include your self.

“You tense up and also you hope you are going to be OK,” he continued. “Which clearly I’m.”

NASCAR has mentioned the automotive’s security enhancements helped hold Preece from extra critical arduous. The group will proceed to analyze causes, together with the opportunity of paving over some grass areas to maintain automobiles grounded.

Playoff factors chief William Byron mentioned Preece’s accident was one thing drivers hadn’t seen a lot in recent times. Byron, like all drivers, was glad Preece got here away in good situation and good spirits, indicators that issues of safety within the second 12 months of the Subsequent Gen automotive are bettering.

“We have made progress, however some components of that crash that positively may’ve been higher,” Byron mentioned.

Preece thanked security personnel at Daytona and at Halifax Well being Medical Middle for his or her fast response and care he obtained.

The expertise hasn’t modified Preece’s opinion of what it takes to succeed.

“That is what we’re alleged to be, we’re alleged to be robust,” Preece mentioned. “And it is OK to be robust, it is OK to do these issues. I really feel good.”