Ryan Preece took a jab at Noah Gragson on social media by sharing a photo from Gragson’s 2023 crash at Chicago, Illinois, just before the two drivers face off in the second round of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge. The rivalry intensifies as both competitors prepare for the upcoming race at the same track where Gragson suffered a notable setback last year.
Preece posted an image showing Gragson’s #42 car up against the wall from that incident, stirring conversations among fans ahead of the challenge. Gragson responded by reposting the image on his story without adding any remarks, signaling a calm yet pointed acknowledgment of Preece’s tease.
Battle Heats Up in In-Season Challenge with Both Drivers Advancing Past Atlanta
Both Preece and Gragson successfully moved past the first round of the challenge held at Atlanta. Preece secured his spot by defeating William Byron from Hendrick Motorsports, while Gragson triumphed over Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing. The winner in this upcoming round will go on to compete against either Carson Hocevar or Tyler Reddick, setting the stage for a highly competitive event.
In the current NASCAR Drivers’ Championship standings, Preece holds an advantage over Gragson. After 18 races, Preece is positioned 14th with 405 points, whereas Gragson is further back in 33rd place with 257 points. Preece’s performance includes one Top Five finish, seven Top 10s, and two Did Not Finishes (DNFs), leading 56 laps with an average starting spot of 19.222 and average finishing position of 17.833. Gragson, meanwhile, has recorded one Top Five, three Top 10s, and four DNFs, leading just four laps along with an average start of 22.889 and an average finish of 23.278.
Noah Gragson Praises New iRacing NASCAR Video Game After Playing
Outside of real-world racing, Noah Gragson expressed excitement after playing the recently released NASCAR game on the iRacing platform. On his X account, he shared his impression of the game, highlighting the realism and physics as particularly impressive. He noted it as the best NASCAR game in over a decade and predicted it could rejuvenate NASCAR console gaming.
“Just played the new @iRacing nascar video game. I gotta say, impressed is an understatement! It is a true racing game with good physics. Haven’t played a nascar game this good for 10+ years. This game will revive nascar console gaming. I’m so hyped! Great work to everyone involved!!”
—Noah Gragson, Driver
The iRacing NASCAR video game has gained praise from fans and experts alike, including legendary NASCAR figure Dale Earnhardt Jr., who described it as a game geared toward hardcore simulation racers. Featuring competition with over 100,000 players and 80 different tracks, it offers an immersive experience for racing enthusiasts.
As Preece and Gragson prepare for the next round in Chicago, their on-track rivalry and off-track banter continue to draw attention, promising an exciting showdown in the intense atmosphere of the In-Season Challenge.
