Race Weekend Central

Ryan Newman: Ready To Return After NASCAR COVID-19 Postponements

Ryan Newman is on the verge of completing his recovery from a scary wreck on the last lap of February’s Daytona 500. The only barrier he claims is standing in his way?

COVID-19.

Newman made a special appearance on FOX Sports’ coverage (April 26) of the NASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational race at Talladega Superspeedway. There, the 42-year-old announced plans to return to the Cup Series, pending official medical clearance from NASCAR. If approved, he’ll slide behind the wheel of the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford once NASCAR resumes following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How soon will that be? Rumors have that happening as soon as next month after NASCAR race shops reopened in North Carolina earlier this week.

Newman was critically injured on the last lap of the 2020 Great American Race after his Ford was turned head-on into the wall by Ryan Blaney. His car was then struck by Corey Lajoie while upside down before coming to rest past the start/finish line.

Doctors determined Newman had suffered a bruised brain in the incident. Luckily, he escaped more serious injury.

“I am so excited and thankful all at the same time,” Newman told FOX Sports’ Mike Joy on the Talladega telecast. “I am excited to be healthy and, at some point, get back in the race car when the world starts turning again.

“I’m thankful for all the people and the support that I have got. Friends, family, fans, you name it.”

Newman was sidelined for the NASCAR Cup Series events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway and Phoenix Raceway before the series was sidelined due to the coronavirus outbreak. The NASCAR COVID-19 cancellations have been in place since March 13.

Ross Chastain replaced Newman in his normal Roush Fenway Ford and expressed his support for the veteran’s return on Twitter.

NASCAR also applauded Newman’s impending return to the Cup Series.

“We share Ryan’s enthusiasm in his return to the track,” the statement read. “We look forward to Ryan returning to racing as soon as he is medically cleared to race.”

There’s no official word from NASCAR on if Newman will be granted a playoff waiver. But other drivers in similar situations (2015 Cup champion Kyle Busch missed three months) have been given them.

About the author

Never at a loss for words, Zach Gillispie is a young, talented marketing professional from North Carolina who talks and writes on the side about his first love: racing! Since joining Frontstretch in 2018, Zach has served in numerous roles where he currently pens the NASCAR 101 column, a weekly piece delving into the basic nuts and bolts of the sport. Additionally, his unabashedly bold takes meshed with that trademarked dry wit of his have made Zach a fan favorite on the weekly Friday Faceoff panel. In his free time, he can be found in the great outdoors, actively involved in his church, cheering on his beloved Atlanta Braves or ruthlessly pestering his colleagues with completely useless statistics about Delma Cowart.

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2 Comments
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janice

Happy for Ryan if this is what he wants. No reason he shouldn’t be granted waiver.

Bill B

Also happy for Ryan and glad to hear some good news.
Not a big fan of giving anyone a waiver but that’s the way it works now.

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