Ryan Newman talks to Shannon Spake about how the Daytona 500 crash changed his life | NASCAR ON FOX

Six months ago, NASCAR opened its season with the Daytona 500. With one lap left, Ryan Newman was in position to win the great American race for the second time with the finish line in sight. Newman

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ed, flipped, being hit by another car and finally sliding to a stop on his roof, the world of racing. He held his breath as he was unresponsive in the car. Shannon spoke with Ryan yesterday as he prepares to return to Daytona High Banks. Oh, this isn't over yet. Ryan Newman came out of turn four for the last time leaning outside in here he comes I never thought I'd sit here and say I was happy to be alive I always took it for granted talk to me when you can buddy talk to me when you can buddy I don't I don't know if I was 30 seconds away from dying, or three minutes away from dying, or 30 minutes away from dying, like you didn't know from the footage, but I never thought I'd sit here and say I was happy to be alive because I've been so blessed in so many ways. and I just got lucky and one day my luck ran out and I'm grateful that I was lucky enough to be saved, so what does it feel like for you to know that so many people have done it? an emotional attachment to a moment that I know from the hundreds of text messages, hundreds of email cards that I read through the connection that I had as a person, as a race car driver, as a friend to so many people and I don't know how you describe it that because it was a near death experience for me, this is a time to thank the man above who left me here to take care of my daughters.

That's the hardest part about talking to Ashland and Brooklyn, now I think they completely understand. all that and they, I mean, they know what I love, they've never questioned me, they never said dad, you shouldn't do that, they never said dad, why would you go back to the race car? None of that, so it will be difficult. The difficult part is just knowing what could have happened that day, of course, I mean, I was close, that was close, I mean, the whole hit was there, the ticket was like in the hand of someone and got lost or what, but my ticket is.

Still here and still here, I feel it because of them, what I do remember is when I left the hospital that day and hugged my daughters and that photo was taken, God flipped my switch back on, that just doesn't happen, no. a coincidence that my dad told me a long time ago, he said, have some kids, he said, I'm going to give you something to live for and it's also very special when you came back two weeks ago and had that moment to thank the rink staff , the security workers and everyone, what was that like for you as you prepare to do your job and feel the emotion of that moment?

It is certainly difficult in that situation. I wanted to make sure the message came from the heart and it was a great opportunity to just say thank you, how many times have you gone back alone, Ryan Newman and watched the accident enough to know that I get it and I understood what happened and why it happened ? Is there anything you can understand? I could have done it differently, I don't think so, I think it was just the way the air was working and the way the mixture was pushing me and you know, I and I called him after, I said, hey buddy, I'm just here to let you know. know. your number is not on my dashboard, we are fine, do you expect to lead the race coming out of turn 4?

The reality is I just want to be, I just want to have a chance, I want to have a chance coming out of the corner. four, like you said, coming back to the checkered flag, I'm happy to have the opportunity to come back and do what I love most. Great

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