Nicknamed “Rocket Man,” Ryan Newman sustained serious injuries in a horrific crash that sent his Ford Mustang across the finishing line on its roof at 2020 Daytona 500.
On Monday, Newman’s Roush Fenway Racing team said he sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.
Newman, who won the 2008 Daytona 500, has been undergoing treatment at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The fiery crash occurred on the race’s final lap, with the Rocket Man in the lead and Ryan Blaney right behind him. Blaney’s bumper caught the back of Newman’s car, barreling into a wall and flipping before getting struck by another car. His Mustang was extensively damaged.
The 42-year-old was immediately rushed to the hospital.
President Donald Trump, the race’s grand marshal, tweeted, “Praying for Ryan Newman, a great and brave @NASCAR driver! #PrayingForRyan”
Democratic presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg, also offered his well wishes.
Corey LaJoie, the driver who hit Newman’s car while it was flipping, tweeted, “Dang I hope Newman is ok. That is worst case scenario and I had nowhere to go but [into] smoke.”
Denny Hamlin, who claimed his second consecutive Daytona 500 win, said, “I think we take for granted sometimes how safe the cars are, and number one, we are praying for Ryan.”
Blaney said, “We pushed Newman there to the lead, and then we got a push from the 11 [Hamlin’s car]. I was committed to just pushing him to the win and having a Ford win it and got the bumpers hooked up wrong. It looked bad.”
