Denny Hamlin is the winner after a thrilling and grueling Daytona 500 that took two days, and overtime; and saw multiple caution flags in the final 16 laps and OT. It's the third time Hamlin has won the Daytona 500, and he is the first driver to win back-to-back years at the Great American Race since Sterling Marlin in 1994 and 1995. Hamlin also becomes the sixth driver to win the Daytona 500 three times, joining Richard Petty (7), Cale Yarborough (4), and Bobby Allison, Jeff Gordon and Dale Jarrett (3)
The celebration in victory lane was muted after Hamlin's win because of a crash on the final lap of the green-white-checker finish that saw Ryan Newman's No. 6 car go airborne and flip on the track several times after jockeying for position with Hamlin and Ryan Blaney as they came to the finish line.
Before going off the air, the Fox television broadcast said that Newman was being taken by ambulance to a Daytona area hospital. Newman was looking for his second Daytona 500 win, after capturing the title in 2008.
In post race comments on the track, Hamlin says he didn't realize the extent of the crash until he got into victory lane. "I didn't see the contact the other car has with [Newman] when he was in the air," Hamiln said. "The worst-case scenario you can possibly have any time you have a wreck is to have somebody's nose kinda where your head is at."
Corey LaJoie's No. 32 car collided with Hamlin's car while it was in the air
Nearly two hours after the race ended, NASCAR executive vice president Steve O'Donnell read a statement from Roush-Fenway Racing saying the Newman' injuries are non-life threatening and he remains in in serious condition at a Daytona area hospital.
First a foremost I want to give well wishes and prayers to @RyanJNewman. I had absolutely NO IDEA of the severity of the crash until I got to victory lane. There’s very little communication after the finish and i had already unhooked my radio. It’s not anyone’s fault. 🙏Rocket
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) February 18, 2020
NASCAR provides an update on Ryan Newman. pic.twitter.com/rZpVKyKeRt
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) February 18, 2020
— Ford Performance (@FordPerformance) February 18, 2020
Jack Roush just showed up to Halifax Medical Center.#RyanNewman #Daytona500
— Christian Bruey (@CBrueyWFTV) February 18, 2020
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
Continuing to wait for an update on Ryan Newman. His hauler is just now leaving the speedway. One of the last few to pull out of the garages. #Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/3p5C64Bb7R
— Joe Kepner (@JKepnerWFTV) February 18, 2020
I’m praying with everyone else for my buddy @RyanJNewman.
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) February 18, 2020
Praying hard for @RyanJNewman. 🙏
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) February 18, 2020
No official word yet. Please join us in sending prayers for @RyanJNewman, @roushfenway, the @FordPerformance family, and all of the larger @NASCAR family. These moments are never easy. #Daytona500 | #NASCAR
— Roush Yates Engines (@roushyates) February 18, 2020
Joe Gibbs issues an apology for the Denny Hamlin team celebrating winning the #Daytona500 after the Ryan Newman wreck. Says they did not see the severity of it and are praying for him. Somber. pic.twitter.com/sjqf8SkNvQ
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) February 18, 2020
Dang I hope Newman is ok. That is worst case scenerio and I had nowhere to go but smoke.
— Corey LaJoie (@CoreyLaJoie) February 18, 2020
This shit is real. We’re all on the road together doing what we love. Please let @RyanJNewman be ok here. 🙏
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) February 18, 2020
Big prayers for Newman
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) February 18, 2020
Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon provide an update on Ryan Newman's status. pic.twitter.com/1lppd0zazz
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 18, 2020
Ryan Newman was helped from his car and was taken directly to a local area hospital by ambulance.
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) February 18, 2020
We will provide official updates as we have them. We have no additional information at this time.
FOX saying Newman is being transported directly to a local hospital.#NASCAR #Daytona500
— Nick DeGroot (@ndegroot89) February 18, 2020
Retweet to congratulate @dennyhamlin on winning his third #DAYTONA500! pic.twitter.com/dkARUIMRq4
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
.@dennyhamlin wins the #DAYTONA500 for the third time in his career!
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
Results: https://t.co/8ZxJqOFsr4 pic.twitter.com/vqn5NXzybs
WHITE FLAG!
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
HAMLIN IS YOUR LEADER! #DAYTONA500
Hamlin and Newman are side-by-side down the backstretch! #DAYTONA500
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
ANOTHER OVERTIME RESTART IN THE #DAYTONA500!
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
FOX! FOX! FOX! pic.twitter.com/YT1IBvJPuf
How is everyone feeling? #DAYTONA500
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
From green ... to yellow. #DAYTONA500
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
(📺: FOX) pic.twitter.com/39tIvKItHA
Green. White. Checkered.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
It's that simple. #DAYTONA500
📺: FOX
Green. White. Checkered.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
It's that simple. #DAYTONA500
FOX | https://t.co/oWWAut6pxx
Overtime in the #DAYTONA500 on FOX.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
Need we say more? pic.twitter.com/W6WX15wJ79
A huge run by @RossChastain ends in a crash. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/Q095RuAmvw
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
Wow. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/0WvhdXuWGP
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
A heavy hit for many contenders late in the #DAYTONA500. @RossChastain and @chaseelliott are among those involved. (📺: FOX) pic.twitter.com/LJnTr6zsR6
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
FOUR TO GO! GET TO FOX NOW! #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/p8aURD0ue1
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2020
