DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Roush Fenway Racing provided the most encouraging update possible on the health of NASCAR Cup Series star Ryan Newman Wednesday afternoon.
The team revealed that Newman has been officially released from Halifax Medical Center just before 2 p.m. ET Wednesday afternoon, roughly 36 hours after he was involved in a vicious crash at the end of Monday night’s 62nd annual Daytona 500.
A Twitter video from Newman’s wife Krissie captured the moment that the South Bend, Ind., native walked out of the hospital, hand in hand with daughters Brooklyn and Ashlyn.
Best sight ever!!! https://t.co/g1G3VDwpi1 pic.twitter.com/kMs4u8LjOL
— Krissie Newman (@NewmanKrissie) February 19, 2020
News of Newman’s release from the hospital came less than two hours after he was confirmed to be “fully alert and walking around Halifax Medical Center” in a noon-time update from RFR officials.
A bump from behind by Ryan Blaney turned Newman’s No. 6 Ford Mustang into the outside wall in the tri-oval at Daytona Int’l Speedway Monday night, causing his car to fly through the air.
Upon returning to the ground, his car was struck in the driver’s side window by the oncoming car of Corey LaJoie.
The impact by LaJoie’s car again sent Newman’s car into the air, with the destroyed race car eventually coming to rest at the end of pit road, where he was quickly attended to by safety officials.
Newman was carefully extricated from the car and taken to Halifax Medical Center, where team officials later revealed he was in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries.
A Tuesday update from RFR confirmed that Newman was awake and speaking with family and doctors before Wednesday’s latest news was revealed by the organization.
RFR officials also noted in the first Wednesday update that Newman “has also been joking around with staff, friends and family while playing with his two daughters, and continues to express his appreciation for the outpouring of support from across the country.”
An update on who will drive the No. 6 Ford Mustang at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be provided as information become available.