NASCAR Cup Series veteran Ryan Newman was seriously injured in an accident on the final lap of the Daytona 500 Monday at Daytona International Speedway.
Newman, in his 19th full-time year in the NASCAR Cup Series, was racing for the lead with Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney coming to the checkered flag of Monday’s race, which had been rained out from Sunday.
The crash took place just before 8 p.m. Late Monday night NASCAR’s chief of racing development office Steve O’Donnell read a statement from Roush Racing, the team Newman drives for on the Cup Series.
“Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center. He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and ask that you respect the privacy of Ryan and his family during this time. We appreciate your patience and cooperation and we will provide more information as it becomes available,” read the statement from Roush Fenway Racing.
Track officials quickly surrounded Newman’s car with black shields to block the view of onlookers while he was extricated. He was transported from the track to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona, Fla.
Newman, a 42-year old South Bend, Ind. native, is in his second season driving for Roush Fenway Racing. He has 18 career victories in 657 Cup Series starts dating back to 2000. He was in his second season driving for Roush Fenway Racing. He drove from 2002 to 2008 for Penske Racing then raced for Stewart-Haas from 2009 to 2013 before joining Richard Childress Racing from 2014 to 2018.
His last win came in 2017 driving for Richard Childress Racing. He won the 2008 Daytona 500 driving then for Penske Racing. He also spent time during his Cup career driving for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Newman is also a familiar competitor to those competing on the Northeast based NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Newman had competed in at least one Whelen Modified Tour event ever year since 2008. He had four victories and 14 top-five finished with the Modified Tour. Of his 27 series starts, 20 of them came at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Contact between Blaney and Newman sent Newman airborne and flipping into the wall. His car was then hit in the driver’s compartment by the oncoming car driven by Corey LaJoie.
“I think we take for granted sometimes how safe the cars are,” said Hamlin, who won the event. “But number one, we’re praying for Ryan. Worked really well with Ryan through this whole race, and obviously he got turned right there.”
That was scary. Lajois car hit right in the left side greenhouse area. My thoughts and prayers are with Ryan, his family and his team. Hopefully he will make a full recovery and be able to race again if he chooses to do so.