Posted on by Staff Report

Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Newman has been treated and released from Halifax Medical Center, according to the team’s official Twitter account.

He had been hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after a wreck at the finish of Monday’s Daytona 500.

Earlier Wednesday, the team announced that Newman “continued to show great improvement.” According to Roush Fenway, Newman was joking with staff members, friends and family while playing with his two daughters.

Hours later, he was officially released.

 

Posted on by Sean Montgomery

The NASCAR Cup Series heads out west for a pit stop at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Sunday’s running of the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX/FOX Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Before the green flag drops, here is all the information you need to know leading up to the first 1.5-mile race of the 2020 NASCAR season.

RELATED: Weekend race coverage | How to follow the races

TRACK DETAILS

Sunday’s Cup Series event marks the 25th race hosted by Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the series’ history after the track held a single race each year from 1998-2017 and two each since the 2018 season.

Source: Racing Insights

The 1.5-mile tri-oval located in Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, has an asphalt racing surface with 20 degrees of banking in each turn and nine degrees on the front and backstretch.

While the track first opened in 1996, the Cup Series held its inaugural race at the track in 1998 with NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Mark Martin leading 82 of 267 laps and taking home the first-ever checkered flag in Sin City.

STAGE LENGTHS

Stage 1 ends at Lap 80, Stage 2 ends at Lap 160 and the Final Stage is slated to end at Lap 267.

RULES PACKAGE

Cup Series cars will feature the same 1.5-mile racing package used in 2019, with aero ducts and a tapered-spacer engine generating a targeted 550 horsepower.

Each team will be allowed three sets of Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials for practice, one set for qualifying and nine sets for the race (eight new race sets, plus one transferred from practice or qualifying).

Las Vegas’ smooth asphalt track does not naturally wear tires. However, with tire wear being such an important factor for cooling and optimum performance, Goodyear has modified the tire to have increased wear on the racing surface.

“The track surface at Las Vegas is one that generates minimal tire wear so we have to design our tread compounds to account for that,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing.  “Excessive heat is the enemy of a race tire and tire performance. On track surfaces that don’t naturally promote wear, it’s important to design a tire that can wear quicker and dissipate that heat. This tire setup, specifically this right-side tire, utilizes a tread compound formulation which does that.”

KEY STATS

— Martin Truex Jr. has won 12 races on 1.5-mile tracks since 2016, almost twice as many as the next closest driver.

— The Stage 2 winner at Las Vegas has won all five races in the stage-racing era.

— Four drivers have won 24 of the 33 races on 1.5 mile tracks since 2017: Martin Truex Jr. (10), Kevin Harvick (six); Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski (four each).

— The Las Vegas race in March of 2019 had an average green-flag stretch of 85 laps.

Source: Racing Insights

LIVE COVERAGE

Tune in to live coverage from Las Vegas on FS1 and the FOX Sports App starting at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday — then switch over the FOX for the remainder of pre-race and in-race action. For complete radio coverage, listen in to PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on-air at 2:30 p.m.

For a more interactive experience, head over to NASCAR.com or the NASCAR Mobile App to check out an enhanced Race Center, live Lap-by-Lap coverage, the customizable live leaderboard with Scanner, and the return of Drive (featuring in-car cameras).

Be sure to set your lineup in Fantasy Live and make your picks in the NASCAR Finish Line App!

2019 RACE WINNER

Joey Logano picked up the first Las Vegas win of his career in last year’s spring race, leading 86 laps — second only to Kevin Harvick’s 88 laps led. With this victory, Logano is the only driver under the age of 30 to win in the last 12 races at the track, including the 2019 fall race.

RELATED: Odds, lines for Las Vegas

ACTIVE LAS VEGAS WINNERS

Jimmie Johnson (four); Brad Keselowski (three); Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. (two each); Kyle Busch and Joey Logano (once each).

 

Posted on by Team Release

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.

Posted on by Staff Report

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.

Posted on by Holly Cain

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.”

Posted on by Team Release

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.

Posted on by Team Release

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.

Posted on by Staff Report

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.

Posted on by Staff Report

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.

Posted on by Staff Report

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

“It was just one of those racing deals,” Keselowski said. “…Unfortunately, it didn’t come together there at the end. I probably made a little bit of a bad move not blocking the 6 and 95. I didn’t know the 95 was that darn fast. He pushed the 6 like a rocket and I didn’t think they would come with

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.