NASCAR’s top competition official shared the first detailed look Saturday into the timeline and overview of the safety and medical response to Ryan Newman’s severe crash in the final lap of the Daytona 500.
Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, gave minute-by-minute details of the actions taken after Newman’s No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford absorbed multiple impacts in the trioval area at Daytona International Speedway in Monday’s finish.
Overall, O’Donnell said the safety and medical personnel in place performed their duties as they were trained to do, but he also said competition officials would continue to learn and implement changes as needed as the investigation continues.
O’Donnell said the initial safety trucks arrived 19 seconds after Newman’s car had stopped and just two to three seconds after one of the last remaining finishers had passed the wreck site. O’Donnell said one of the three trauma doctors assigned to the Daytona safety team arrived at the car 33 seconds after it had stopped, and a paramedic entered the vehicle just two seconds later.
O’Donnell said doctors and paramedics attended to Newman throughout the safety response, except for when the vehicle was rolled over back onto its wheels.
NASCAR officials did not provide updates on the nature of Newman’s injuries or his current medical condition, citing privacy laws. Roush Fenway Racing is scheduled to hold a press conference at the track Sunday at 12:45 p.m. ET.
— NASCAR —
