NASCAR: Driver Ryan Newman is rushed to hospital after horrifying Daytona 500 last-lap crash
- 4 years ago
#RocketMan #RyanNewman #NASCAR
President Trump is 'praying' for Ryan Newman, who is in a serious condition in hospital following a fiery crash during the final lap of the Daytona 500 on Monday night.
Newman, who was leading the famous race in his No. 6 Ford Mustang, was zooming around the speedway at 195 miles per hour when the smash happened.
'Praying for Ryan Newman, a great and brave @NASCAR driver,' the Commander-in-chief tweeted out, just two days after his own highly-publicized visit to the raceway.
The incident occurred when Newman's car was nudged up against a wall and flipped over just meters from the finish line.
As Newman's Mustang fell back onto the raceway, it was struck by a trailing car which prompted it to flip into the air again.
Thousands of stunned spectators watched on in disbelief as the vehicle eventually landed on its roof after catching fire and rolling for several meters.
Medics and Daytona officials ran out onto the speedway to cut Newman from the smoking wreck before he was rushed to a Daytona Beach-area hospital.
Several hours later, NASCAR released a statement, saying: 'Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center. He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and ask that you respect the privacy of Ryan and his family during this time.
Denny Hamlin went on to win the race in his No 11. Toyota Camry for the second consecutive season, prompting NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs to wildly celebrate at the finish line.
However, Gibbs has now apologized for gloating about the victory, saying he was unaware of how serious Newman's accident actually was.
'We really didn't know, we got in the winner's circle and that's when people told us,' he told assembled press later in the evening.
Meanwhile, Hemlin appeared somber following his victory, telling assembled press: 'I think we take for granted sometimes how safe the cars are and number one, we are praying for Ryan'.
'It's a weird balance of excitement and happiness for yourself, but someone's health and their family is bigger than any win in any sport. We are just hoping for the best.'
Newman, who is nicknamed 'Rocket Man', is father to two young daughters, who frequently watch him on from the sidelines of the race track.
Other drivers were also stricken with concern in the aftermath of the smash, including a rattled Corey LaJoie - the driver who hit Newman's car as it was flipping.
'Dang I hope Newman is ok,' he posted on Twitter. 'That is worst case scenerio and I had nowhere to go but (into) smoke.'
It wasn't the first crash like this for Newman at Daytona or at another superspeedway, the Talladega track in Alabama. His car went airborne and flipped repeatedly in the 2003 Daytona 500. He landed on his roof in that one and did again at Talladega in 2009.
He's been a harsh critic of NASCAR's struggles to keep cars on the ground, even getting fined for publ
President Trump is 'praying' for Ryan Newman, who is in a serious condition in hospital following a fiery crash during the final lap of the Daytona 500 on Monday night.
Newman, who was leading the famous race in his No. 6 Ford Mustang, was zooming around the speedway at 195 miles per hour when the smash happened.
'Praying for Ryan Newman, a great and brave @NASCAR driver,' the Commander-in-chief tweeted out, just two days after his own highly-publicized visit to the raceway.
The incident occurred when Newman's car was nudged up against a wall and flipped over just meters from the finish line.
As Newman's Mustang fell back onto the raceway, it was struck by a trailing car which prompted it to flip into the air again.
Thousands of stunned spectators watched on in disbelief as the vehicle eventually landed on its roof after catching fire and rolling for several meters.
Medics and Daytona officials ran out onto the speedway to cut Newman from the smoking wreck before he was rushed to a Daytona Beach-area hospital.
Several hours later, NASCAR released a statement, saying: 'Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center. He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and ask that you respect the privacy of Ryan and his family during this time.
Denny Hamlin went on to win the race in his No 11. Toyota Camry for the second consecutive season, prompting NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs to wildly celebrate at the finish line.
However, Gibbs has now apologized for gloating about the victory, saying he was unaware of how serious Newman's accident actually was.
'We really didn't know, we got in the winner's circle and that's when people told us,' he told assembled press later in the evening.
Meanwhile, Hemlin appeared somber following his victory, telling assembled press: 'I think we take for granted sometimes how safe the cars are and number one, we are praying for Ryan'.
'It's a weird balance of excitement and happiness for yourself, but someone's health and their family is bigger than any win in any sport. We are just hoping for the best.'
Newman, who is nicknamed 'Rocket Man', is father to two young daughters, who frequently watch him on from the sidelines of the race track.
Other drivers were also stricken with concern in the aftermath of the smash, including a rattled Corey LaJoie - the driver who hit Newman's car as it was flipping.
'Dang I hope Newman is ok,' he posted on Twitter. 'That is worst case scenerio and I had nowhere to go but (into) smoke.'
It wasn't the first crash like this for Newman at Daytona or at another superspeedway, the Talladega track in Alabama. His car went airborne and flipped repeatedly in the 2003 Daytona 500. He landed on his roof in that one and did again at Talladega in 2009.
He's been a harsh critic of NASCAR's struggles to keep cars on the ground, even getting fined for publ