Daytona 500 Tag

By David Morgan, Associate Editor Ryan Newman’s road to recovery following his frightening crash at the end of the Daytona 500 took him to New York City and the TODAY Show on NBC on Wednesday, where he detailed more about how things are going for him in the weeks since the crash. “It’s still humbling to watch [a replay of the crash] and know that I’m sitting here without a headache, which is amazing,” Newman said. “Just a miracle on so many levels and thankful for so many people, for prayers,Read More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor The opening salvo of the 2021 NASCAR season just underwent a major shakeup with Daytona International Speedway announcing a shortened race week schedule starting next season. Traditionally, the Busch Clash and Daytona 500 qualifying have been held on the weekend prior to the Great American Race, but next year, everything is getting compressed into a six-day window from Tuesday, February 9 to Sunday, February 14. The Busch Clash will be run on Tuesday night, but won’t be held on Daytona’s 2.5-mile oval. Instead, the exhibition raceRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Ryan Newman confirmed in his first statement since Monday’s violent Daytona 500 crash that he sustained head injury which will put him out for an unknown amount of time. Newman also mentioned that he doesn’t have any internal organ damage or broken bones, but once the green light is given for an on-track return, even if doesn’t mean strapping in his No. 6 Ford Mustang right away, he’ll be there. Here’s Newman’s full statement that was issued prior to Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Roush Fenway Racing announced Wednesday Ross Chastain will fill-in for Ryan Newman this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. RFR President Steve Newmark issued a statement regarding the motorsports community pouring their undeniable support for Newman, who is not only awake and alert, but released from Halifax Medical Center hours prior of the team announcing Chastain as their driver. Ryan Newman has been treated and released from Halifax Medical Center pic.twitter.com/J0twhGgQm7 — Roush Fenway (@roushfenway) February 19, 2020 This encouraging news came just two days afterRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Two days removed from one of the most horrific crashes in NASCAR history, Ryan Newman continues showing improvement Wednesday. Roush Fenway Racing issued its latest statement on all social media platforms: “Ryan Newman continues to show great improvement after Monday night’s last-lap accident at Daytona International Speedway. “The veteran driver is fully alert and walking around Halifax Medical Center. True to his jovial nature, he has also been joking around with staff, friends and family while spending time playing with his two daughters.” Following their statement,Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Ryan Newman is in serious condition and unspecified, but non-life threatening injuries while being treated at Halifax Medical Center. The update on Newman, the 2008 Daytona 500 champion, came via Roush Fenway Racing. pic.twitter.com/RugPUdmpEk — Roush Fenway (@roushfenway) February 18, 2020   While battling for the win on the last lap of the 62nd Daytona 500, which was postponed to Monday due to weather, Newman was leading off of Turn 4 coming to the checkered flag when he was clipped by Ryan Blaney’s car. The incidentRead More

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In the hours before his final Daytona 500 start, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson was riding bikes with his wife and two young daughters in the infield, enjoying the sunny Florida day and the good vibes before NASCAR’s highest profile green flag flew. On the grid before the race, Johnson’s daughters took turns sitting in the driver’s seat of their dad’s famed No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. And then moments later, their father rolled off and into theRead More

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service Brendan Gaughan caps final Daytona 500 with career-best finish DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With 10 laps left in his final Daytona 500, Brendan Gaughan was two laps down. Two quick cautions, however—the last one coming on Lap 199 of a scheduled 200—got Gaughan back on the lead lap as the highest-scored lapped car just in time for the first of two overtimes. Gaughan made the most of the opportunity, driving up to seventh place by the time the race reached its chaotic conclusion, withRead More

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With the car of Ryan Newman sliding upside-down trailing sparks behind him, Denny Hamlin joined elite company on Monday night in the second-closest finish in Daytona 500 history. Hamlin beat Ryan Blaney to the finish line at Daytona International Speedway by .014 seconds, and while the driver of the No. 11 celebrated with a burnout on the infield grass, the emergency crew worked to extricate Newman from his No. 6 Ford, which came to rest on its roof at theRead More

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Rain stopped the Daytona 500 after 20 laps of a scheduled 200 Sunday afternoon, forcing postponement of the Great American Race until Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were the centerpiece of pre-race festivities. After addressing the crowd, President Trump gave the command to start engines and paced the field for a lap before returning to the Daytona 500 Club. Jimmie Johnson, starting hisRead More