Ryan Newman finally had the chance to talk about his Daytona 500 crash on NBC’s Today Show on Wednesday morning, and he revealed information about the frightening crash that we have been anxiously awaiting since the final lap of the Great American Race.
“It takes time for it to heal,” Newman said of his injuries on NBC’s Today Show. “I was knocked out. There was a point where I don’t remember a part of the race. Realistically, I feel so lucky. On so many levels, I feel so lucky. You look at the crash and you think that is spectacular in a bad way. You look at the car afterwards, you think about all the things that happened right for me to be sitting here.”
This is the first time we have heard that Newman was actually knocked unconscious during the crash. Newman also would reveal that he is recovering from a bruised brain after the roll cage in his No. 6 Ford Mustang was compromised while taking a near-200-mile-per-hour shot to the top of his race car after flipping.
Newman, who remained upbeat and comical throughout the interview still says he has no idea when he’ll return to the track.
“I don’t know yet,” the 42-year old said. “We’re working on it. Soon as I possibly can.”
As for why Newman wants to return to the race track after such a scary crash, Newman had a simple answer, “I love it.”
Here is the Newman interview from NBC’s Today Show:
“Just a miracle on so many levels.” It’s been less than a month since NASCAR driver @RyanJNewman survived a frightening wreck on the final lap of the Daytona 500.
Ryan joined us for his first interview since that crash. pic.twitter.com/GBxsCJqGlF
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 11, 2020
Newman, an 18-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, was in position to win the season-opening Daytona 500 — a race he won back in 2008. Coming off the final turn, Newman blocked a run from Ryan Blaney, however, the two made contact, which sent Newman spinning across the track and into the wall.
When Newman hit the wall, it flipped his car upside down and back toward the middle of the track.
Corey LaJoie, who had nowhere to go, slammed into the top of Newman’s flipped race car at just about full-speed.
Upon being pulled from the car by the medical crew at Daytona International Speedway, Newman was transported to Halifax Medical Center.
Ryan Newman Latest: Fully Alert, Walking, Joking and Playing With Daughters
A couple of days later, Newman was released from the hospital and was seen walking from the hospital hand-in-hand with his two daughters.
Two weeks ago, Newman visited the Roush Fenway Racing shop for the first time and received a standing ovation from the employees.
Ryan Newman Receives Standing Ovation in First Visit to Roush Fenway Racing Since Crash
Then, last week, Newman made the trek to Phoenix Raceway to support his race team.
Video: Ryan Newman Speaks in Phoenix Garage Says, ‘It’s Great to be Alive’
While Ross Chastain continues to fill in for Newman, the plan is still to have Newman return to the car in a reasonable enough time to still compete for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Newman would have to win a race and be inside the top-30 of the driver standings in order to be eligible for a Playoff berth.
