Ryan Newman joins @TODAY to discuss Daytona 500 crash (FULL INTERVIEW) | Motorsports on NBC

It's been less than a month since NASCAR driver Ryan Newman survived this terrifying

crash

on the final lap of the Daytona 500 and we're so happy we have Ryan here at our table for his first

interview

since that

crash

, but First take a look at how we got here, it's the terrifying accident that had a nation of racing fans holding their breath. Newman flipped, went into the air, another car hit Ryan Newman and sent him flying back into the air at 190 miles per hour, wrecking. his number six car at the end of this year's Daytona 500, Ryan miraculously escaped with a head injury but was otherwise unharmed. shared an update from his hospital room and then this emotional photo and video just two days after the accident in which he left the medical center holding hands with his young daughters since leaving the hospital he has been fishing or as he calls it a little therapy Hi guys, I just want to thank you for all your support and encouragement over the last few weeks, they have been quite challenging. and returned to his racing team's garage, as well as visiting a racetrack over the weekend as a spectator.

It's a remarkable turnaround for a Newman who, as a young driver, told us about newly implemented safety precautions for drivers. I really feel like I'm 50 years old. 70 percent safer than last year and an incredible three weeks for Newman, but now he's back on the track Ryan, we're so happy you're here, we're so happy you're sitting at that table after watching that video. I don't know how many times you've seen it, but how are you feeling this morning? How do you feel

today

? I'm still humbled to see it and know that I'm sitting here without a headache, which is amazing, just a miracle on so many levels. and I thank so many people for their prayers for everything that helped me be safer in that situation, no broken bones, nothing like that and there were some reports of head injuries, one of the doctors has to say about it, basically , like a bruised brain that just takes time to heal.

They knocked me out. There was a point where I don't remember part of the race and realistically I feel so lucky as it was on so many levels. I feel so lucky. When you look at the accident, you think it's spectacular in the negative sense, right, yeah, if you look at the car afterwards, you think about all the things that happened, the fact that I'm sitting here, I mean the race itself. , for people who don't. follow NASCAR it's the Daytona 500 Superbowl here you are at 190 miles per hour on the last lap you're so close to winning this when they cut you off what's the last thing you remember well this is what I should have done I want to

interview

Koch Industries and I want to say it's emotional, for sure, and I think about the fact that I came so close, but in the end I feel very humbled by the opportunity of the experience to continue my life to be blessed. for the prayers of so many people to be sitting here and hope

full

y doing something about it, enjoying life with my daughters.

I said that I know that you are here and that your guardian angels, who are clearly watching over you and safely, is something that you have been working on, speaking out and being a leader on and off the court and now here you are the beneficiary of that right and It's not just me, but there's a whole group in NASCAR. He has done a great job from the slopes to security. staff, the drivers inside the cars, the cabins, the containment seats that we have, there are so many levels of things that happened in the last 20 years that I have been a part of this sport that helped me be able to sit here

today

.

Just a minute ago I said that when you look at the accident and think, "My God, how did I walk away?", but then when you look closer and look inside the car, what went right, what did you do, what did you mean, what It was going well, just where. I got hit so to speak, so the cage was compromised, all those welds were held together, so the guys in the shop did an amazing job, all the things that happened that kept me here, I mean, I got hit from behind. a car going 190 miles an hour and he pushed me back but then he pushed me forward like his car actually hit my seat so there's a lot of things happening that line up because I mean you've been a huge safety advocate.

There is actually a bar on the car and it's called a Newman bar that protects drivers and their foreheads specifically for people who might be looking and wondering why in the world after surviving something like this deceitful debt, why would you go back? to the car? Why not? just remove it for now. I love it, I mean, because I'm only 42 years old. No, I really love it. I mean, it's been a little painful to be out of the race car and not do what I've done. for many years I started running when I was four years old, four and a half years old, so that's kind of who I am and lastly, would you tell your daughters because I know that must have been scary because they were in the moment. happened, what did you tell them, dad is fine, I mean, really, I mean, no, no, no, I mean, they seem to be completely okay with the fact that I'm still a dad, I think it would be totally different. if something else had happened, but I'm one hundred percent who I was, what they were good with when you got back in that car, what are you back in that Vettel?

No, yes, we are working on it, okay, as soon as possible. To the extent possible, could they see you coming to see us? We are glad to have you. Thank you so much. Hello

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