Ryan Newman continues to show great improvement after Monday night’s last-lap accident at Daytona International Speedway.
The veteran driver is fully alert and walking around Halifax Medical Center. True to his jovial nature, he has also been joking around with staff, friends and family while spending time playing with his two daughters.
Ryan Newman Continues Great Improvement pic.twitter.com/xIZRiaRApi
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) February 19, 2020
For the first time in facility history, Phoenix Raceway will host NASCAR Championship Weekend for all three of the sport’s national series. And as of Tuesday, tickets are on sale to ensure you don’t miss the experience.
Title weekend is scheduled for Nov. 6-8 on the reconfigured, action-packed 1-mile track in Arizona. A bonus for those looking to see which NASCAR Cup Series driver lifts the Bill France Cup at the culmination of the weekend — there’s a fourth title to be decided with the ARCA Menards West Series concluding on Saturday, Nov. 7, in a doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
RELATED: Buy your tickets now!
That’s four championships in three days.
“It’s difficult to put into words the level of excitement we feel here at Phoenix Raceway and across the entire community for this NASCAR season and what is to come between now and November 8,” said Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese. “I’m incredibly proud that our facility, and the State of Arizona, will be hosting this year’s NASCAR Championship Weekend.”
Fans attending will continue to benefit from Phoenix Raceway’s modernization project, which will continue to allow fans to get closer to the championship action than ever before. As part of NASCAR Championship Weekend , fans will have the opportunity to take in the midway experience, featuring merchandise haulers and interactive displays from sponsors and vendors. Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase the INfield Experience, providing unprecedented access to their favorite drivers and teams throughout the entire weekend.
A $178 million project designed to make the fan and race experience even better first launched in 2018. The most visible change from afar was the repositioning of the start/finish line in Turn 2 just before the dog leg, which makes those late-race restarts and passing opportunities all the more important.
Flat screen TVs are located throughout common areas, and WiFi is available throughout the facility — even in-seat.
Other structural changes included a new ticket and guest services building, a new garage experience, new fan zone bar and more.
MORE: See all of the changes
Steeped in NASCAR history, Phoenix has plenty of incredible moments in its history. Alan Kulwicki turned a “Polish Victory Lane” after his first NASCAR Cup Series win in 1988 (which came at the track’s first Cup Series race), Kevin Harvick earned the facility’s first sweep in 2006 and Clint Bowyer attempted to chase down Jeff Gordon after a memorable on-track incident between the two in 2012.
More recently, in the playoff-elimination era, we’ve seen clutch walk-off wins by Harvick and Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final win in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2015.
Expect a new memorable moment to join that list.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In the hours before his final Daytona 500 start as a full-time driver, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson was riding bikes with his wife and two young daughters in the infield, enjoying the sunny Florida day and the good vibes before NASCAR’s highest profile green flag flew.
On the grid before the race, Johnson’s daughters took turns sitting in the driver’s seat of their dad’s famed No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. And then moments later, their father rolled off and into the last Daytona 500 he’s scheduled to run before retiring at the end of the season.
PHOTOS: Top moments for Jimmie Johnson | WATCH: Jimmie Johnson’s first Daytona 500 win
For most of the day Johnson kept the car up front and looked absolutely ready to contend for his third Daytona 500 trophy… only to be collected in a late-race wreck while running in the top five. Johnson was caught in a 19-car accident with 16 laps remaining in the 200-lap race – a race won for the second consecutive time by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin.
The accident eliminated or hindered a handful of the afternoon’s lead cars – from Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. and Kurt Busch who were running up front at the time to Aric Almirola, Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman, who were actually able to make repairs and continue, albeit no longer as true race contenders.
Johnson drove his dinged-up famed No. 48 Chevrolet to the pits immediately after the accident, but the team opted to call it night after surveying the damage.
“It’s been really a cool race to be a part of,” said Johnson, who won the Daytona 500 pole position in his first try in 2002 and then won NASCAR’s most celebrated race in both 2006 and 2013.
RELATED: See every Daytona 500 race winner
“You only dream of racing in races like this as a kid.”
Encouraged by his strong showing – he earned points in both stages of the race and ran as high as third place and led three laps – Johnson was obviously frustrated not to have an outcome that matched his good work.
“That No. 22 car (Joey Logano) had been pretty aggressive all day long. I just felt like it was a matter of time before his pushes were a little much and it looks like that was the case there. Our Ally Chevy was really strong. I hate that we were tore up in it.
“I’m really excited about the races ahead of us. [Crew chief] Cliff Daniels did a great job leading this team, full support from Hendrick Motorsports, my family, my friends, my fans. I’m just very thankful for all of that.
“We didn’t get to Victory Lane today, but I’m ready to get to Vegas [for the next race on Sunday] and get to work out there.”
Johnson conceded, however, that the Daytona 500 has always held a special place in his heart. An off-road racer from California, Johnson has been candid and grateful for the opportunity NASCAR has presented him and what the opportunity to be a multi-time Daytona 500 champion has meant to his career.
“For me, it’s so far away from San Diego and one of the few races that was on television,’” Johnson said of the 500. “I remember watching this race with my father and grandfather. Really didn’t think I’d ever end up here, so when I came up as a teen wondering if I’d ever get the chance to race on this track, the intensity of it all just kicked in.
“Outside of the car [it was emotional]” he said, “Inside the car, that’s my space and I’m perfectly happy and content with the decision I made.”
Ryan Newman remains under the care of doctors at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. He is awake and speaking with family and doctors.
Ryan and his family have expressed their appreciation for the concern and heartfelt messages from across the country. They are grateful for the unwavering support of the NASCAR community and beyond.
We will continue to provide information as it becomes available.
Daytona Beach, Florida (February 16, 2020) — 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.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation and we will provide more information as it becomes available.
Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Newman has been treated and released from Halifax Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Newman was taken to Halifax Medical Center on Monday night following a last-lap wreck on Monday in the 2020 Daytona 500. The 42-year-old was in serious condition following the crash, but doctors indicated his injuries were not life threatening, according to a statement from Roush Fenway Racing.
On Tuesday, Roush Fenway Racing President Steve Newmark posted on social media that Newman remained at Halifax Medical Center. The team later announced in a statement at 3:45 p.m. ET that Newman is “awake and speaking with family and doctors.”
On Wednesday, Roush Fenway Racing posted on social media that Newman continued to show great improvement and was fully alert and walking around Halifax Medical Center.
MORE: Roush Fenway Racing statement on Ryan Newman
Newman was removed from the car by rescue personnel Monday night at Daytona International Speedway following his involvement in a last-lap, last-turn wreck.
Newman was in the lead coming into the final turn with Ryan Blaney and eventual Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in close pursuit.
Denny Hamlin won his second consecutive Daytona 500 in a photo finish with Ryan Blaney on Monday night at Daytona International Speedway, the second closest finish in the history of the “Great American Race.”
Hamlin passed Blaney after a wreck broke out behind them. Ryan Newman was taken to a local hospital following the last-lap wreck. According to a Roush Fenway Racing statement, Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center. He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening.
RELATED: Daytona 500 results
Hamlin is the fourth driver to win back-to-back Daytona 500s, joining Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Sterling Marlin (1994-95). His No. 11 Toyota officially cleared post-race inspection. NASCAR also announced it will take the No. 6 Ford of Newman and the No. 32 Ford of Corey LaJoie back to the NASCAR R&D Center for further evaluation.
Behind Hamlin and Blaney at the finish were Chris Buescher, Newman’s teammate at Roush Fenway Racing; David Ragan, fourth in a one-off after retiring from full-time racing; and Kevin Harvick. Newman was credited with a ninth-place result behind Bowyer (sixth), Brendan Gaughan (seventh) and LaJoie.
Following inclement weather that delayed the race from Sunday to Monday, the race resumed on Lap 21. Chase Elliott won Stage 1, and Hamlin triumphed in Stage 2, before, in typical fashion, the intensity ramped up in the closing laps.
A chain-reaction crash that started when Joey Logano bumped Aric Almirola into Brad Keselowski on Lap 184 involved 19 of the 37 cars still in the race and eliminated Keselowski and seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson (likely making his last Daytona 500 start).
A nine-car wreck in Turn 1 on Lap 199 collected Logano and Almirola and forced overtime. The first set of extra laps had scarcely begun when a three-car incident in the tri-oval saw Michael McDowell and Clint Bowyer spinning through the infield. That wreck set up the second overtime and finish.
The “Big One” stayed away for the first 180 laps of the 2020 Daytona 500 before rearing its head on Lap 181 in a major way with Brad Keselowski getting turned into the wall and collecting a host of contenders.
Keselowski appeared to get into the wall after getting loose from a push by Aric Almirola and Joey Logano. Almirola also suffered significant damage in an incident that appeared to collect nearly half the 40-car field.
PHOTOS: See scenes from the 2020 Daytona 500 | Byron’s day comes to an end in Stage 1
that big of a run and when they did, I didn’t cover it. I put myself into a position where when they did wreck, I couldn’t make it through.”
Among the other cars unofficially involved in the wreck: Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman, Tyler Reddick, Matt DiBenedetto, Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon, Kurt Busch, Justin Haley, Ryan Blaney, Ty Dillon, Chris Buescher, Brendan Gaughan and John Hunter Nemechek.
Truex and Johnson were unable to head back out after not completing work in time under the damaged vehicle policy.
Reigning Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin held control of the lead for much of Stage 2 en route to securing his first stage win of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season at the Daytona 500. Hamlin was one of three Joe Gibbs Racing cars in the top five (Kyle Busch in second and Martin Truex Jr. in fourth were the others) after the JGR fleet got shut out on stage points in the opening 65-lap run.
Hamlin, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, started at the rear of the field at the beginning of the race after his No. 11 Toyota failed pre-race inspection twice.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. came home third while Ross Chastain finished fifth in the stage. Kevin Harvick took on some damage from an incident involving Quin Houff and BJ McLeod on Lap 89.
| Finish | Driver | Team | Points |
| 1 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | 10 |
| 2 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | 9 |
| 3 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | 8 |
| 4 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | 7 |
| 5 | Ross Chastain | Spire Motorsports | — |
| 6 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | 5 |
| 7 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | 4 |
| 8 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | 3 |
| 9 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | 2 |
| 10 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | 1 |
Elliott scores Stage 1 win
Chase Elliott scored the Stage 1 win in two-lap shootout at the 2020 Daytona 500. The reigning NMPA Most Popular Driver led the last 22 laps of the stage as Hendrick Motorsports claimed three top-five spots in the stage.
Alex Bowman, who started second in the race, finished second in Stage 1 followed by Aric Almirola, Joey Logano and Jimmie Johnson to complete the top five. Johnson overcame a pit-road penalty during a stop under caution for too many men over the wall.
William Byron went for a wild ride on the backstretch to bring out a Lap 58 caution that saw his day come to an early end with a lot of damage on his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. The incident came after what appeared to be slight contact on the left rear from Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Byron had won the Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 2 on Thursday night and started the race in the fourth starting spot.
Stenhouse Jr., the Busch Pole Award winner, led the first 23 laps of the race and finished the stage seventh.
Stage 1 started on Sunday but got only 20 laps in before rain caused delays that ultimately moved the race to Monday.
| Finish | Driver | Team | Points |
| 1 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | 10 |
| 2 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | 9 |
| 3 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | 8 |
| 4 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | 7 |
| 5 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | 6 |
| 6 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | 5 |
| 7 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | 4 |
| 8 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | 3 |
| 9 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | 2 |
| 10 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | 1 |
The Daytona 500 will resume at 4 p.m. ET today on FOX, one day removed from a delay brought on by inclement weather.
Because we know you have a racing itch that needs scratchin’, NASCAR.com will go live from the garage at Daytona International Speedway at 3 p.m. ET later today. Host Alex Weaver will take in the sights and sounds from the birthplace of speed — check out the action in the garage and talk to drivers about what to expect on the track today.
Check back at NASCAR.com for the full show, which also will air on our YouTube, Facebook and Twitter handles.
RELATED: Full Daytona 500 preview
