Ryan Newman shares heartfelt message to Daytona’s emergency crews in return to track

Ryan Newman returned to Daytona International Speedway for the first time since his horrific Daytona 500 wreck in February.

For the first time since Ryan Newman’s horrific last-lap crash during the 2020 Daytona 500, the No. 6 Ford driver returned to Daytona International Speedway and got behind the wheel for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race.

Newman had the lead of NASCAR’s iconic season-opener in February as he and those chasing him came down the frontstretch. Ryan Blaney made contact with Newman from behind in an attempt to give the fellow Ford driver a push to the finish line.

But Newman turned instead, hit the outside wall and was slammed into by another car. He landed upside down, and it took several minutes for the emergency crews to get him out of the car and transport him to the nearby hospital.

So before the GoBowling 235 on Daytona’s road course, Newman took a moment to thank the track’s emergency and health care staff for helping save his life.

Newman said:

“Hey, everyone, just want to say a big thank you. This is a special day for me, a lot of it because of all the things that you guys did back in February. … Thank you for your support, not only for me personally, but all of the things that you do for all of us drivers. It goes a long way, and I wanted to say thank you from the deepest of my heart. Thank you.”

Newman was in the hospital for not even 48 hours before being released, despite initially being in “serious condition.” Months later, he revealed he was in a medically induced coma at one point.

Also prior to Sunday’s race at Daytona, Newman spoke with NBC Sports about his return to the track for the first time since the Daytona 500 wreck. And, in an unsurprising moment for the 42-year-old driver, he made a joke.

When asked about his emotions returning to Daytona, Newman said:

“Ha, I hate to laugh and say it because I really am thankful of all the things I’ve done, but I don’t remember leaving the last time. So when I drove back in the tunnel today, that was kind of the special moment I shared with myself was — the last time I left here, it never registered. So I felt like I never left, and that’s why I’m back because I still feel like this is what I want to do and love to do.

“And I’m blessed to have Guaranteed Rate on our car for this weekend and to be back to be able to do it. There’s no guarantees in life, and that proved — or almost proved that that’s the case. And I don’t know that I could have done anything different in the moment. I still don’t know that I did anything wrong. It’s just, that was part of racing.”

[jwplayer I4JVAlGv-q2aasYxh]

[vertical-gallery id=938881]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393221]