Ryan Preece didn’t want to be a cautionary tale, but after his terrifying crash at this year’s Daytona 500, it became impossible to ignore the danger lurking in NASCAR’s superspeedway racing. His Ford flipped violently, lifting off the ground at nearly 190 mph, and spun in the air, reminding everyone how thin the line is between speed and disaster. “I don’t want to be the example,” Preece said afterward, his voice heavy with frustration.
He pointed to the growing risk, pleading for NASCAR to act before a tragedy forced their hand. “We keep beating on a door hoping for a different result,” he warned. Since the introduction of Next Gen cars in 2022, eight cars have gone airborne in the Cup Series. Five of those flips happened in just the last 12 months. Despite several safety updates, like roof rails and parachute flaps, the risk persists.
And now, as NASCAR returns to Talladega with no fresh updates or changes to the superspeedway package, the alarm bells are louder than ever. Cup Series champion Kyle Busch and Christopher Bell, two of the sport’s most respected voices, are making it clear: NASCAR is playing with fire. Ahead of the upcoming Jack Link’s 500, they voiced their concerns and asked NASCAR to act soon.
Ahead of the race, two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch spoke about the issue. He didn’t sugarcoat his frustration, saying, “Greenhouses aren’t that easy to make and are very expensive. But if it’s a safety feature, we should have it by now.” Busch made it clear that delaying safety measures at a track like Talladega, where speeds flirt with 200 mph, is risky business. “It’s a little disappointing we don’t have it yet… So, I would agree with the sentiment that, yeah, it’s a little disappointing we don’t have it yet if it’s a safety feature for us,” he added.
Kyle Busch feels a little disappointed that NASCAR has not implemented any changes to the aero package for drafting tracks although he knows NASCAR is working on a plan (the hope is for a change for Daytona with a flap on the A-post). pic.twitter.com/x6dTu14zkn
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 27, 2025
Busch’s concerns are not baseless. Back in 2022, with the launch of Next Gen cars, NASCAR promised a safer future. They announced a 510-horsepower engine with a seven-inch spoiler for superspeedways like Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta. The goal was to manage speed and keep cars grounded. However, as the years passed and crashes continued, doubts grew. This weekend’s Talladega race will use the same package used at the Daytona 500, with no new safety features, despite multiple warnings and failed tests. Christopher Bell added his voice to the warning.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver said he trusted NASCAR to do their best but admitted, “I think it’s time to start thinking about the style of racing that we have here.” He’s calling for a whole new superspeedway rules package. Bell explained the problem clearly: fuel mileage races and locked-down packs where no one can move. Drivers often run at 50-60% throttle to save fuel, waiting for the final laps to make a move.
“Once the pack forms and you’re bumper-to-bumper and door-to-door, you rarely see movement,” he said. Racing becomes a slow dance of patience instead of a fight for position. Bell pointed to Atlanta’s new layout as an example where good racing happened despite initial doubts, but reminded everyone that Talladega and Daytona are a different beast altogether. Looking ahead, NASCAR has plans.
A new A-post flap designed to prevent liftoffs is under development and expected to be ready by the summer Daytona race. Officials are testing the design to ensure it’s strong enough to withstand the violent forces of a high-speed spin. However, none of these updates will be in place for Talladega. The drivers are entering this weekend’s race with the same vulnerabilities that have already produced too many close calls.
Christopher Bell praises Cleetus McFarland!
While the spotlight at Talladega has been on safety concerns, Christopher Bell found a moment to celebrate something different — the fun and energy brought in by YouTuber Cleetus McFarland. Racing in the ARCA Menards Series event Cleetus pulled off a surprising 10th place finish despite battling major mechanical issues. His engine had a valve train problem that couldn’t be fixed during the race.
His crew told him to keep going and hope for the best. Against the odds, Cleetus hung in there. He survived several cautions and restarts and crossed the finish line inside the top 10. It was a gritty, unlikely run that captured a lot of attention. Bell admitted he didn’t know much about Cleetus personally, but he admired the energy he brought to the sport. “The name of the game has fallen down this path of political correctness. You have to say the right things, do the right things, and act a certain way. It’s refreshing whenever you get a guy like that,” Bell said.
The JGR driver also pointed out that Cleetus isn’t trying to chase a full-time NASCAR career — at least not yet. But Bell respected Cleetus for doing it his own way. “Maybe one day he will, but he definitely does it in his own way, and I respect that,” Bell added. Notably, Cleetus’s effort stood out because it was genuine. He wasn’t racing to impress sponsors or to build a career. He was racing because he loves the sport. Bell and others saw that and appreciated the authenticity.
The post Christopher Bell & Kyle Busch Go Hand in Hand to Warn NASCAR of Impending Disaster at Talladega appeared first on EssentiallySports.