From ESPN News Services
NASCAR driver Ryan Newman was fully alert and walking around Wednesday, two days after his horrific last-lap crash at the Daytona 500.
Roush Fenway Racing released a statement Wednesday that said Newman “continues to show great improvement” and is “fully alert and walking around Halifax Medical Center.” The racing team also posted a photo of Newman and his two daughters on its Twitter account.
“True to his jovial nature, he has also been joking around with staff, friends and family while spending time playing with his two daughters,” the statement said.
Newman, 42, turned hard into the wall Monday night after getting bumped from behind by Ryan Blaney a few hundred feet from the finish line. Newman’s No. 6 Ford then flipped onto its roof, where he was helpless as he was walloped in the driver’s side by another car at 190 mph.
Newman’s car continued to skid upside down along the speedway and crossed the finish line in flames as safety crews hurried to snuff out the fire and cut Newman loose. It took about eight minutes for workers to roll his car rightside-up, and medical personnel used black screens to block spectator views as Newman was placed in a waiting ambulance and taken to Halifax Medical Center.
On Tuesday, Roush Fenway Racing said in a statement that Newman was awake and speaking with family and doctors.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
