NASCAR people knew immediately that Ryan Newman's violent crash at the end of the Daytona 500 was bad. Now we can hear how concerned everyone was in the moment.
FS1 on Wednesday aired teams' radio transmissions during and after the incident for the first time, in its "Radioactive" segment on "Racehub." The concern came through clearly.
MORE: Ryan Newman's recovery timeline, from crash to return
Newman's car was destroyed after being spun by Ryan Blaney's car just before the start-finish line and then smashed at full speed by Corey LaJoie's car. Denny Hamlin sneaked through for the win. Hamlin's elation at his third Daytona 500 victory quickly went away after he was told that Newman was still in the car and hadn't responded. (Go to 5:50 for the film sequence.)
"Radioactive" never aired after the Daytona 500. Following Ryan Newman's miraculous recovery and return to the track, we're able to bring it to you now. pic.twitter.com/pzMpLlVq6f
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 3, 2020
Newman, 42, was taken to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., and released two days later. Fox's segment ended with the stirring image of him walking out of the hospital with his daughters.
He returned to racing in May, at the same time NASCAR returned from the COVID-19 hiatus. He has competed in all five Cup Series races since the resumption.
