LIVE VIDEO: Ryan Newman 'awake and talking' less than 24 hours after Daytona 500 wreck

this is channel 9 Eyewitness News at 4:00 coverage you can count on we're here with some important breaking news on Eyewitness News at 4:00 in these last few moments Roush Fenway Racing said Ryan Newman is

awake

and

talking

with his family and doctors after this horrible accident during last night's Daytona 500 good afternoon, I'm Greg Gorman, I'm Vanessa Echols, the 42-year-old was in position to win the race before his car hit the wall , overturned and then was hit again by another car that was traveling. 200 miles per hour Channel Nine's Lauren Seabrook has been investigating the safety features on the track and in that car intended to help save the driver who did it in this case, but we begin our in-depth

live

coverage of that horrific crash with Channel 9 sports host Joe Kepner is

live

at the Halifax health center where Newman is being treated Joe, you just got that statement about Newman's condition, what else did you have to say?

Well, it wasn't much, Greg, but it was enough to give everyone a little I hope they said that he is still being treated by doctors here in Halifax and that he is

awake

and

talking

to family and doctors. They also thanked all of their fans in the NASCAR community for their concern and all the warm wishes they have received over the last 20

hours

an incredible update after that devastating accident that we saw last night about two

hours

after this devastating accident on Monday night night we were told that Ryan Newman's injuries were serious but not life-threatening a notable update after one of the worst accidents we have seen at Daytona, we will continue to work with the racing team and Ryan's family to support them in everything that we can.

We ask that you respect his privacy and we will provide any updates we can in the future, but this time our thoughts are with Ryan and his family. The accident occurred in the closing moments of the Daytona 500 with Newman in the lead being pushed from behind by Ryan Blaney, a common move in racing after his car went airborne, he was hit again directly on the driver's side. , by Corey Lajoie, who talked about the accident this morning, which is probably the worst possible place and the most vulnerable place in our race cars, it's that corner of the roof and I was a really scary accident and all our thoughts from the professionals .

With Newman and his family, it took Kruse about 20 minutes to get Neumann out of the car and he was immediately taken to the hospital where he is still being treated this afternoon and again we hear that he is awake and talking to family and doctors. There are still no updates on the exact type of injuries he suffered in that accident last night at the end of the Daytona 500, although live from Daytona, excuse me live from Daytona Beach Joe Kepner channel 9 Eyewitness News, okay, Joseph, there is big news today, many People now believe that several safety changes over these past 20 years may have saved Ryan Newman's life last night.

The chat lines up. Lauren Seabrook continues our in-depth coverage of the team and is live for us at Daytona International Speedway. Drivers are safe in the car and Greg many say they have this man to think about those changes. Ironically, it was this day almost two decades ago that Dale Earnhardt was murdered just a few hundred feet from where we stand now and his death changed the sport. For better, it has been 19 years since the last time someone died in the Daytona 500. I brought a rose here today for Earnhardt's passing anniversary, but yesterday's accident with Ryan Newman behind the wheel reminded NASCAR fans how drivers tempt fate every time.

They take the hint that all the equipment they use is very safe. We had a lot of people keeping an eye on it since Dale Earnhardt's accident in 2001. Race cars have gotten safer every year. The mandatory Hans device protects the head and neck to prevent fatal injuries as Earnhardt also connects to the seat belt system of the safety harness and the collar portion connects to the driver's helmet. They keep adding more and more to his problems. They find our situations. They find that the walls are now built softer to absorb the energy of a collision. of cars deployed during a crash to slow the movement of air rushing over the top and nets keep drivers away from debris and their arms inside the car during impact, we still don't know the details of Newman's injuries , but we do know without the subsequent changes.

Earnhardt's death may have been much worse. I'm glad everything turned out without danger to life. Last night's accident will be studied thoroughly and we probably can't expect to see some safety changes in future live reporting. in Daytona Beach Lauren Seabrook channel 9 Eyewitness News just a wild iris again 19 years since the death of Dale Earnhardt all eyes, of course, on Newman and the rush to get him to safety, but the race was exciting Denny Hamlin secured the closest second in Daytona 500 history and a look at the moment he crossed the finish line. Emlyn beat Ryan Blaney by

less

than 1/100th of a second.

Hamlin also holds the record for the closest race in the history of the great American race now that he has the number. one and the second closest race under his belt, which was in 2016, Hamlin is the fourth driver to win back-to-back Daytona 500s. As we continue to wait for more updates on Ryan Newman's condition, you can see the support and well wishes he has. we've been hearing from other drivers and racing fans by downloading the free WFTV News app and we're following