NASCAR driver Ryan Preece found himself in the sport’s spotlight after a late‑stage crash at Texas Motor Speedway saw him make contact with Ty Gibbs, prompting an official penalty that included a $50,000 fine and a loss of 25 driver points.
The shirt as a statement
The penalty sparked a personal response: Preece began selling a T‑shirt emblazoned with the phrase “Don’t hit the button,” a direct reference to his radio communication during the incident.
Fans and even fellow competitor Ross Chastain have taken notice, with Chastain spotted wearing the shirt, turning a protest into a modest merchandise movement that underscores frustration with perceived rule inconsistencies.
The debate intensified when Preece pointed to other recent on‑track incidents at Chicagoland Speedway — where Shane van Gisbergen clipped Austin Hill and Zane Smith hit Carson Hocevar — that passed without sanction, arguing that the series applies its penalties unevenly.
While Preece has appealed the punishment, claiming he never actually struck Gibbs, he has also acknowledged that venting on the radio is a natural outlet, though he cautions drivers against pressing the “button” that triggers a broadcast.
The controversy reflects a larger conversation about transparency in NASCAR’s enforcement, as the sport’s leadership and media outlets grapple with calls for clearer, more uniform decision‑making.