NASCAR driver Ryan Newman awake and talking after crash

NASCAR

driver

Ryan Newman is still in the hospital tonight, but he's

awake

and

talking

after a bad

crash

on the final lap of the Daytona 500. The 42-year-old was leading the race when he was hit from behind, then spun, went airborne and spun several times. It was a scary moment for everyone on and off the track, including Denny Hamlin and the Creek Joe Gibbs Racing prank team. We know what can happen and you just don't dream it would happen and that's how I feel about it. I've been so fortunate for so long and you know we're all praying now for the outcome of this.

This comes 19 years after Dale Earnhardt Sr. died on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.