‘It sucks for me,’ Ty Gibbs breaks silence on Ryan Preece’s Texas penalty

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs found himself in the middle of controversy once again after a late-race incident at Texas Motor Speedway, prompting RFK Racing to formally appeal the hefty penalty handed down to Ryan Preece. The appeal keeps the spotlight on one of the more heated on-track moments of the young 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Preece was fined $50,000 and docked 25 driver and owner points for what NASCAR deemed an intentional spin of Gibbs. With RFK pushing back, the case now heads to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel, adding another layer of tension as teams gear up for road course action at Watkins Glen and beyond.

According to a statement from RFK Racing reported by Frontstretch, the team plans to present its findings to the appeals panel. “We appreciate the opportunity to share our findings with the National Motorsports Appeals Panel at the appropriate time,” the organization said. “Additionally, our organization respectfully embraces the forum provided by NASCAR to present our case.”

In an interview with Bob Pockrass, Gibbs assessed the situation. “It sucks for me, you know, got destroyed there, and I mean, obviously that was last week, and we’ll let NASCAR figure that out. But yeah, we have a wrecked race car and lost a lot of points for, you know, going through the bottom and not taking any contact,” He said. “I haven’t looked much into that. But obviously, if you say you’re going to wreck somebody and you do it…..I think there’s been plenty of situations where, they’re not plenty, but a couple, where they’ve penalised people for that. That was just another situation like that.”

In Texas, Preece made contact with Gibbs in the closing stages, sending the No. 54 JGR Toyota spinning. NASCAR officials reviewed the tape and came down hard, viewing it as retaliation or deliberate rough driving. Preece currently sits 12th in the standings with a couple of top-10 finishes to his credit this year, so the points hit stings for a team fighting to stay relevant in the playoff picture. Gibbs, the young gun in the Gibbs family stable, has dealt with his share of on-track battles. Joe Gibbs Racing as a whole has been competitive in 2026, building on a strong 2025 campaign that nearly delivered another championship. The organization is celebrating its 35th anniversary this season with special branding across its entries, a reminder of the powerhouse status it has maintained for decades.

1. Kaulig Racing’s RAM Trucks Breakthrough at Watkins Glen

2. How This Affects the Bigger Picture for Gibbs and JGR

Ty Gibbs remains a focal point. As part of Joe Gibbs Racing’s four-car Cup operation, he’s expected to contend week in and week out. The Texas incident and subsequent penalty drama could serve as motivation or a distraction, depending on how the team handles it. JGR entered 2026 with high hopes after coming close to title glory the previous year, returning all four driver-crew chief pairings. The organization has also been busy off the track, adding sponsors like Zep for multiple races and continuing partnerships such as Saia. These moves show a team investing in long-term stability while navigating the competitive fires on Sundays. For Gibbs personally, incidents like the one with Preece test maturity under pressure. He’s grown a lot since his early days, but road courses and short tracks have a way of exposing raw rivalries. Fans will be watching closely to see if this fuels stronger performances or lingers as a talking point. Kaulig’s success with Ram Trucks also indirectly ties into the broader manufacturer battle. While Toyota powers JGR, the return of Ram in the Trucks adds excitement and competition that ultimately lifts the entire sport. Strong runs at places like Watkins Glen prove new programs can find their footing quickly with the right people in place.

3. What Comes Next for RFK, JGR, and the NASCAR Season

The appeals process will play out in the coming weeks, potentially restoring points or adjusting the fine depending on what evidence RFK presents. In the meantime, attention shifts back to the track. Watkins Glen’s Cup race features a mix of road course specialists and veterans, with Kaulig’s own AJ Allmendinger qualifying 12th and showing solid practice speed. For Joe Gibbs Racing and Ty Gibbs, the focus is simple: channel any frustration into results. With the season still young, every point matters in the chase for the playoffs. RFK Racing, too, needs to regroup and prove they belong among the contenders. NASCAR thrives on these storylines—the rivalries, the appeals, the breakthrough performances. Whether it’s Chris Rice celebrating top-10s with Ram Trucks or RFK fighting for Preece, the passion remains undeniable. As the series heads toward Dover and the next stretch of races, expect more fireworks. Gibbs and company will be right in the thick of it, carrying the weight of one of NASCAR’s most storied organizations into another chapter of a compelling 2026 campaign.

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