NASCAR confirmed Ryan Newman is not in a life-threatening condition after a huge crash at the Daytona 500 event.
Newman was leading the final lap of the famous race when his car flipped, spinning several times and scraping along the track upside down while on fire.
The 42-year-old was quickly seen to on the track, before being taken to Halifax Medical Centre.
It was later confirmed by NASCAR that Newman’s injuries are not life-threatening, though he was reported to be in a serious condition.
“Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center,” read a Roush Fenway Racing statement. “He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening.”
President Donald Trump, whose Air Force One landed at Daytona the previous day to take in the action, tweeted to say he was praying for Newman.
Denny Hamlin won the race after Newman’s final-lap crash, and he said he was ‘praying for the best’ for ‘tough guy’ Newman during his post-race media duties.
He was initially criticised for wildly celebrating his win with a series of doughnuts in the infield just moments after Newman’s crash and with his condition unknown.
Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing team late apologised for the celebrations.
Newman is in his 19th full season with NASCAR and previously won the Daytona 500 in 2008.
