NASCAR driver Ryan Newman was looking to win his very first Daytona 500 on Monday (February 17).
During the final lap of the race, Newman was fighting Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney for the lead when the Roush Fenway Racing Driver was clipped by Blaney, sending his car into the outside wall.
Newman’s car went airborne and landed upside-down before the driver’s side door was hit at full speed by Corey LaJoie’s car. Newman’s car was in flames at it slid several hundred feet on its roof.
Scary finish at #DAYTONA500 when leader Ryan Newman flipped right before the finish. Denny Hamlin wins but all thoughts on Newman right now. pic.twitter.com/Fltj5w5d2g
— Troy Hirsch (@troyhirschfox5) February 18, 2020
Emergency personnel rushed to Newman’s car and turned it back onto its wheels. It took them approximately ten minutes to get Newman out of the car. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
Later Monday evening, NASCAR released a statement from his family, which said, “Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center. He’s in serious condition, but doctors have indicated that his injuries are non-life-threatening.“
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
On Tuesday (Feb 18), the Roush Fenway Racing Team released an update on Newman’s condition.
“Ryan Newman remains under the care of doctors at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. He is awake and speaking with doctors,” they wrote.
His injuries are still unknown at this time. We will keep Newman and his family in our prayers during his recovery.
The team says they will continue to provide updates as they become available. See their full statement below.