It was Ryan Blaney who hit Ryan Newman from behind on the last lap of the Daytona 500, sending the number 6 car headfirst into the wall before it was hit on the driver side and went airborne.
Newman spent two nights in the hospital following the accident, but was miraculously not seriously injured.
On Friday, Blaney spoke out about the accident and how he’s feeling since.
“That happens, you lose the race by a foot, you get out of the car and then you see a replay of that — I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,'” Blaney said. “It was a big, big range of emotions within 10 minutes. It is tough to watch it. I don’t want to see the in-car high speed camera. I don’t want to see that.”
Ryan Blaney met the media for the first time since the Newman accident. He explains what talking to Ryan meant to him, how he spent the day after the accident and seeing the replay. pic.twitter.com/hoMgl1aoA5
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 29, 2020
“It is literally the worst place you can get hit with these cars,” he said. “It proves a lot about the safety of them for that to happen and Ryan to be okay but there is still a lot we can do to keep these things on the ground and not get over and be in a position to get hit like that. It is definitely not comfortable to watch. I don’t try to watch it.”
“You have people that aren’t even involved and have never even watched the sport that have their own opinion on bad things,” he said. “The outreach I got from the calls from former drivers and current drivers that week was pretty remarkable. Their support was good.
“You never wanna see anyone get hurt in this sport,” he added. “We are all competitors but we are also a big family. Ryan [Newman] and I have gotten along really well, and that was just a bad circumstance, and it’s great that it worked out for the best. It was nice to have the friends and family and drivers and teams support. That really helped me out.”
Newman talked on camera for the first time on Friday, as well.
“The outpouring of emotion from not only the NASCAR community, but across the country, has been truly humbling,” Newman said. “I want to personally thank everyone including the Man upstairs for their support, encouragement and the numerous offers of assistance.
“I’ve spoken with Jack Roush and he has assured me that the #6 car will be waiting and ready for my return,” Newman continued. “I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel and battling for another race win in the Roush Fenway Ford.”
