In the days since the 2020 Daytona 500 finish when Ryan Newman was in a horrible wreck and taken to the hospital, Ryan Blaney has been “replaying the events in [his] head over and over” and thinking about what he could have “done differently ever since.”
In his first comments about the crash since immediately speaking with reporters after the race, No. 12 Ford driver said on Twitter that he and Newman spoke Wednesday night — Newman was released from the hospital earlier that day — about what played out. Blaney added that Newman’s sense of humor was still intact and “brought a smile to my face.”
On the last lap of Monday’s rain-delayed Daytona 500, Newman, Blaney and eventual Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin were fighting for the win. As Blaney later explained, if he couldn’t win the race, he said wanted a fellow Ford driver, Newman, to win over Hamlin in a Toyota. So as Newman had the lead coming down the frontstretch of Daytona International Speedway one last time, Blaney tried to give him a push.
Here is the final lap of the Daytona 500 in which Ryan Newman's car was flipped at the line.
We will continue to keep you updated on his status as we learn more. pic.twitter.com/qkEwQBpoP0
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 18, 2020
Instead, however, Blaney said his No. 12 Ford and Newman’s No. 6 Ford “just got bumpers hooked up wrong and turned” Newman, who then hit the wall before being slammed into by Corey LaJoie. Newman went airborne, and his car landed upside and slid off the track with sparks and flames coming out of it.
He was taken to a nearby hospital in “serious condition” Monday night and was released, miraculously, less than 48 hours later.
In a Twitter post Thursday night, Blaney also addressed the crash and his brief conversation with Newman.
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) February 21, 2020
Blaney wrote:
“I don’t think you will ever see someone as tough as Ryan Newman, to see him walk out of that hospital with his girls brought a tear to my eye. I was lucky enough to speak with him last night briefly about what happened Monday, it was just good to hear his voice to be honest. His Ryan Newman humor was at large and brought a smile to my face. The recovery he has made the past few days have been remarkable. I look forward to seeing him soon to talk about it more.
We are all competitors racing for wins every weekend but at the same time are one big family, and you never want to see family get hurt. Have been replaying the events in my head over and over about what I could’ve done differently ever since. I’m very luck to have a great family, friends, team and incredible fans that have helped me out this week. I can’t thank everyone enough for that.
I can’t wait to have Rocketman Ryan Newman back at the track racing as hard as ever.”
When Blaney spoke with reporters Monday on pit road after the race, he was clearly distraught and shaken up by what had just happened. He repeatedly said spinning Newman was “definitely unintentional.”
Earlier on the final lap, Blaney gave Newman a huge push ahead of Hamlin, and when Blaney then tried to pass Newman for the lead at the very end, Newman successfully blocked him. Blaney said that’s when he tried to push a Ford to win over Hamlin’s Toyota:
“I was just committing to pushing him to the win once he blocked a couple times, was kind of beat. Just hope Ryan’s all right. It sucks to lose a race, but you never want to see anyone get hurt.”
While it is unclear how long Newman will be out of the car, he’s obviously not racing this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ross Chastain is filling in for Newman in the No. 6 Ford for Sunday’s race.
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