Ryan Preece responds after receiving penalty at the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro

Ryan Preece was frustrated over his ‘choose V violation’ at the NASCAR All-Star Open. He was sent to the back of the field, compromising his run for a chance to advance to the main event, where a $1 million prize awaits.

A ‘choose cone’ is a marking on the track where drivers can choose whether to run top or bottom on a restart. Preece, driver of the #60 RFK Racing Ford, claimed he didn't see the marking, resulting in a penalty, which he accepted after calling it a mistake.

NASCAR Insider Dustin Long caught the 34-year-old driver's heated radio message over the penalty at North Wilkesboro Speedway and posted it on X (formerly Twitter).

“(Ryan) Preece on team radio: ‘How can we do that. You can't even see the (#&(@&* thing. ... That's @(*(*(! ... How can you call it if you can't even see it?’” Long wrote.

After the 100-lap last chance qualifier, Ryan Preece, on X, posted a picture of the ‘choose cone’ next to the start/finish line. Based on the photo, the marking seemed covered by burned tire rubber, though the two supplementary triangular signs could be seen on the fence.

As a result, Preece came short of the two transfer spots in 11th place. The top two finishers were Carson Hocevar and John Hunter Nemechek, who will start in the NASCAR All-Star Race in 21st and 22nd, respectively. Noah Gragson, meanwhile, won the fan vote contest to complete the 23-car field of the main event.

FS1 will commence the All-Star Race broadcast on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET. RFK Racing teammate Brad Keselowski will start in pole position ahead of Christopher Bell. Preece's other teammate, Chris Buescher, will also participate and start in 10th.

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“Just frustrated with the outcome”: Ryan Preece on ‘choose V violation’ at North Wilkesboro

In a post-race interview, Ryan Preece shared his thoughts on his ‘choose V violation’ at the NASCAR All-Star Open. He was frustrated with the penalty after pointing out the orange marking wasn't visible.

Preece, who previously drove for the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing, said (via Matt Weaver on X):

“It's a cone that's nonexistent. So if you're going to... I don't know. Can't even see it right now so, a rule is a rule. I understand that. But at the end of the day, I made a mistake, just frustrated with the outcome... or the decision.” [0:03]

The Connecticut native later proposed an idea regarding the ‘choose V rule,' saying:

“Put a cone out there. If we're going to have a cone rule, put a cone.” [1:10]

With Ryan Preece finishing 11th at the NASCAR All-Star Open, his day at North Wilkesboro Speedway is done. He will be back in action next week at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race on the schedule.

As of this writing, the first-year RFK Racing driver has amassed one top-5 and four top-10 finishes. His best result came at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, finishing third behind race winner Josh Berry and Daniel Suarez.