NASCAR's Ryan Preece fires back at Stephen A. Smith over 'athlete' debate
Stephen A. Smith has been criticized by a NASCAR star after the ESPN host controversially said drivers are not athletes.
Ryan Preece, who suffered a shocking crash at Daytona in 2023, fired back at Smith in the wake of his comments during his SiriusXM radio show this week.
During a debate on whether LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes ever in terms of his career longevity, a caller put forward legendary race car driver Richard Petty.
'Come on, man. That don't count. You driving a car!' Smith fired back in response.
'I'm being honest, it's a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same.
'You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s for crying out loud. A golfer is not an athlete. A NASCAR driver is not an athlete.'
Those comments angered Preece, who barrel-rolled 10 times down the backstretch at Daytona in 2023.
'I'd love for him to go tumbling 13 times, have black eyes, and show up next week doing what you gotta do,' he said of Smith.
'I think your definition of an athlete certainly varies from person to person.'
Preece has endured two sickening crashes at Daytona but managed to emerge unscathed after both, despite a stay in hospital after the first in 2023.
