NASCAR is one of those competitions where the danger is hidden by the skill of the participants.
It’s a contest of inches, and sometimes less. They say “rubbing is racing”, but try to rub anything at 200mph+, and things are sure to get hairy. From a nice, smooth aerial camera, these hulking steel behemoths, being propelled down the track by literal explosions in the engine bay, may look serene…even soothing.
There’s a reason why some people call it “NAPCAR”.
But the moment that something, anything, doesn’t go as planned, there can be terrifying consequences.
Denny Hamlin emerged victorious at the Daytona 500 on Monday night, winning the iconic NASCAR race for a third time, but it was overshadowed by a string of frightening crashes — including a fiery wreck that sent Ryan Newman to the hospital.
Newman flipped several times; his car ultimately crossed the finish line engulfed in flames.
Track personnel arriving to help Ryan Newman (6) after he flipped his car on the final lap in front of the grandstands during NASCAR Daytona 500. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Fortunately, his injuries were not life-threatening, according to NASCAR Executive Vice President Steve O’Donnell, who read a statement from Roush Fenway Racing Monday night.
Video of the crash from several different angles could be found on social media shortly after it occurred.
This is the craziest video of the Ryan Newman wreck. Prayers up pic.twitter.com/bBFkFu8cKm
— B Turn (@bturner23) February 18, 2020
In slow motion, you really get an idea at how violent that accident was… Thoughts going out to Ryan Newman and his family. pic.twitter.com/d2Sg2PgxbV
— PDaley Productions (@PDaleyProd) February 18, 2020
Ryan Newman flipped on the final straightaway, hope he's ok! #Daytona #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/bF6GrSNTcY
— AJ (@TampaBayAJ) February 18, 2020
The Daytona 500 was in the news earlier this week as well, with President Trump becoming the first sitting President to act as a field marshal for the event.
The Commander in Chief even took a lap around the fabled track in The Beast – the armored Cadillac limousine that normally serves in his motorcade.
