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Daytona 500 Ends Tragically for Driver Ryan Newman Yesterday

Jessie Micchelli February 18th, 2020
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 17: Track workers attend to Ryan Newman, driver of the #6 Koch Industries Ford, following a crash during the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The 62nd running of the Daytona 500 aired last night, Monday, February 17, 2020, and involved one of the most hectic crashes in NASCAR in a long while. Driver Ryan Newman was transported to Halifax Medical Center as the other drivers finished the race and celebrated. Newman is currently being treated at the hospital in serious condition, but none of his injuries are deemed as life threatening.

During the final stretch of the race, Newman lead the pack by a hair, with drivers Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin trailing right behind him. Contact from Blaney’s car sent Newman crashing into the wall and eventually into another driver’s vehicle, sending him into the air and turned upside down. Newman’s car caught fire but was quickly put out by track personnel. He was extracted by the vehicle by emergency respondents and evacuated to a nearby hospital.

Ryan Newman at age 42, is a 19-year NASCAR veteran who currently runs the No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. He won the 2008 Daytona 500. Much support and prayers go out to Ryan Newman and his family.