CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ryan Newman says he will be ready to race when NASCAR resumes competition after suffering a head injury in the season-opening race at the Daytona International Speedway.
Newman had surged into the lead on the final lap of the Daytona 500 when Ryan Blaney’s bumper caught the back of his Ford and sent him hard right into the wall. His car flipped, rolled, was hit on the driver’s side by another car, and finally skidded across the finish line engulfed in flames.
Ross Chastain drove the No. 6 Ford in place of Newman for three races before the NASCAR season was suspended March 13 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It took several minutes for his car to be rolled back onto its wheels. The 2008 Daytona 500 winner was placed in a waiting ambulance and taken directly to Halifax Medical Center.
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The Indiana native spent less than 48 hours in the hospital before walking out holding hands with his two daughters.
[ ‘I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel’: Ryan Newman’s first statement since crash ]
Newman said Sunday on Fox Sports he will be ready to race when NASCAR calls drivers back to the track. NASCAR says Newman still must be medically cleared.