What’s Happening?
In typical Bristol fashion, the tempers boiled over Sunday night as Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevy spun and hit the wall…after a little help from none other than Stewart-Haas Racing driver, Ryan Preece in the No. 41.
You Need To Know:
- Kyle Larson, a dirt track ace who has mixed emotions on this event in Bristol, Tennessee, was up towards the front for most of the night, racing very aggressively, performing questionable slide jobs on his competitors. One of those competitors just so happened to be Ryan Preece. Kyle Larson squeezed Preece coming out of turn-4 which caused him to make contact with the outside wall. Preece then went for a spin of his own, causing a caution.
- With Preece falling back in the field, it would appear at first that the matter was closed. That was until Larson went for a spin himself and the two found themselves deep in the pack together. Under caution, Preece showed his displeasure with Larson, giving him a…certain one-fingered gesture. Feeling that his anger was not well acknowledged by Larson, Preece took it into his own hands, getting into Larson and putting him into the outside wall.
- The fans seem to be mostly in Larson’s corner on this one. With Preece’s radio admission, many fans seem little distinction between this and the Denny Hamlin deal.
Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece have had 𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 in Bristol. https://t.co/FvM32VtQcJ pic.twitter.com/UD0gg2pAwm
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 10, 2023
The incident seemed to give Larson significant enough damage that he retired from the race. Preece was able to continue. Perhaps some of the spiciest radio chatter during this whole fiasco came from Ryan Preece, who referenced Denny Hamlin’s fine when he admitted to intentionally taking out Chastain. Maybe that’s “hack” driving???
The Main Characters
Ryan Preece was sure to let Kyle Larson know that he did not appreciate being raced that way.
Ryan Preece isn't happy with Kyle Larson. pic.twitter.com/BWfBAzm1VL
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 10, 2023
Kyle Larson spoke to FOX Sports after the incident. The interview was rather mild in nature.
Kyle Larson’s interview after the incident. pic.twitter.com/CUtytyIxLD
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) April 10, 2023
In The Stands
sportsguy70 on Twitter calls for Preece to get the same penalty as Denny Hamlin. Yes, but…this one was in the heat of the battle.

Preston Bennett makes the claim that Preece should be worshiped!

Darrell Andes Jr. on Twitter claimed that Larson actually crashed himself, countering many of the fans attacks on the young Preece.

In response to the Daily Downforce’s tweet, Jennifer G says that yes, the contact was payback, yes, it was intentional, and yes, NASCAR just might get him for it.

On Your Screen
Darian Gilliam of Black Flags Matter dubs this move exactly what it is, PAYBACK!
Ryan Preece pays back Kyle Larson! #NASCAR75
— Darian Gilliam (@BlackFlagMatter) April 10, 2023
Out of the Groove’s Eric Estepp points out that Ryan Preece is not innocent on the aggressive driving front.
I get his frustration over the Larson deal.
— Eric Estepp (@EricEstepp17) April 10, 2023
But that last replay appeared to show Preece smushing Ty Dillon and Busch into the wall.
🤷♂️ https://t.co/lw66FcoPdK
Yes, Eric, Preece most certainly did do something.
Welp Ryan Preece did do something.
— Eric Estepp (@EricEstepp17) April 10, 2023
“Oh no he didn’t!”
Preece has had some of the spiciest soundbites this season https://t.co/lU9eDtj0ub
— Eric Estepp (@EricEstepp17) April 10, 2023
Darian Gilliam accurately states that Preece and Larson definitely have BEEF!
Ryan Preece and Kyle Larson got BEEF. #NASCAR75
— Darian Gilliam (@BlackFlagMatter) April 10, 2023
From The Press Box
Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass reports the play-by-play of the incident.
Caution after Larson spins following side-by-side knocking with Preece, who didn't appear to want to give Larson any room.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 10, 2023
Dave Moody points out that Preece did exactly what he said he was setting out to do…
It appears that @RyanPreece_ is a man of his word.
— Dave Moody (@DGodfatherMoody) April 10, 2023
Jeff Gluck begs the question on how was what Preece did any different than what Hamlin did? Because, Jeff, it was “in the heat of the moment”.
Aside from Preece saying anything on a podcast, how is that different than what Hamlin did to Chastain? Just wondering.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) April 10, 2023
Yup, The SuperSquad, Preece most certainly did “get ’em”.
Preece got em lol
— The SuperSquad (@The_SuperSquad_) April 10, 2023
Both Jim Utter and Bob Pockrass report that Kyle Larson has retired from the race.
5 done for the race
— Jim Utter (@jim_utter) April 10, 2023
Larson to the garage. Done for the night.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 10, 2023
Ryan Preece says “I got loose”, according to Jordan Bianchi. Very tongue-in-cheek, Ryan.
"I got loose."
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) April 10, 2023
Ryan Preece
Why couldn’t this have happened? It would have been EPIC!
If Larson gets out of his car and tweets everyone is a bunch of hacks, this comes full circle.
— 🔥Fireball Turnbull 🚁 (@DougTurnbull) April 10, 2023
BrakeHard also claims that there is little, if any, difference between the Preece/Larson deal and the Hamlin/Chastain deal.
Preece said it's "game over", and gestured at Larson, then his crew chief said it's "eye for an eye"
— BrakeHard (@BrakeHardBlog) April 10, 2023
This is no different than what Denny did/said but it will result in no penalty. pic.twitter.com/izRzAErZQu
Matt Weaver reports this excellent interview with Larson where he sheds a little more light on the whole situation with the No. 41.
"It was a tight clear off 4 … He had a short temper. He was trying to crash me after that, he was swerving at me under yellow. An hour and a half had gone by and it wasn't my fault what happened and I hoped he would chill out."
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) April 10, 2023
Kyle Larson on Ryan Preece and staying on scuffs pic.twitter.com/0gfvktzemg
Last weeks winner at Richmond was taken out at Bristol by the guy who called everyone a “bunch of hacks” after the COTA fiasco. Ironic, isn’t it?