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Ryan Newman, who was seriously injured in a Daytona 500 crash, earned the nickname 'Rocket Man' when he was just 22
Ryan Newman, who was seriously injured in a Daytona 500 crash, earned the nickname 'Rocket Man' when he was just 22
Kelly McLaughlinFeb 19, 2020, 01:07 IST
NASCAR driver Ryan Newman was seriously injured in a crash at the Daytona 500 on Monday night.
He was leading in the race's last lap when his car spun out and flew into the air before landing on its roof.
Newman, 42, was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, NASCAR officials said in a statement. He is still in a Dayton hospital recovering.
Newman, who earned the nickname "Rocket Man" in his rookie season, has been involved in NASCAR for nearly 20 years.
Outside the sport, Newman is a father to two young girls and runs a nonprofit focused on helping rescue animals.
Driver Ryan Newman, who was left seriously injured after a crash at the Daytona 500 on Monday night, has had a nearly 20-year career in NASCAR. But outside the sport, Newman is a father-of-two who launched an animal rescue nonprofit with his wife.
The 42-year-old, whose car landed on its roof and burst into flames after the crash, was taken to a nearby hospital in Daytona, Florida, in "serious condition."
The NASCAR world has rallied around Newman since the crash, and some of his fans are even donating to his nonprofit, Rescue Ranch, to show their support for his family.
Newman ascended the NASCAR ranks early on; in his first season with the sport, he earned the nickname "Rocket Man" for his high-voltage driving.
Newman was a star racer as a teenager and went on to receive an engineering degree from Purdue University.
As a teenager growing up in South Bend, Indiana, Ryan Newman was a star racer.
He won more than 100 Quarter-Midget features, earned two Midget championships, and was named United States Auto Club (USAC) Midget Series Rookie of the Year in 1995.
He also won races in the Silver Crown and Sprint Car divisions of the USAC, and by 1999 he was named the Silver Crown Series champion.
After graduating high school, he earned an engineering degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Following his graduation from Purdue, Newman burst onto the NASCAR scene when he was 22, where he earned the nickname 'Rocket Man' and set a rookie record.
When Newman entered the NASCAR scene in 2002, he was quickly nicknamed "Rocket Man" thanks to a number of first-season pole positions — the spot given to the driver with the best qualifying time in trials.
He was 22 at the time, and set a rookie record with six pole wins.
Newman has two young daughters, named Brooklyn and Ashlyn. They're regularly seen at his racing events.
Newman and his wife, Krissie, are founders of an animal rescue nonprofit.
Newman and Krissie launched Rescue Ranch in 2012 on 87 acres in Statesville, North Carolina.
The animal welfare organization "promotes humane education by focusing on rescuing on a fundamental level through hands-on learning and care for animals," according to its website.
The ranch hopes to expand to create nature walks, education trails, a 24-hour emergency veterinarian clinic, and a rescue foster and adoption program.
Newman has 18 career cup series wins, and once finished 2nd in a Cup Championship.
Over Newman's nearly 20 years in NASCAR, he's earned 18 Cup wins and 51 Cup poles — the top qualifying race position. Among his 18 Cup wins are the 2008 Daytona 500 and 2013 Brickyard 400.
His best Cup Championship finish was in 2014, when he placed 2nd.
In 2002, he beat out Jimmie Johnson to earn the title of Sunoco Rookie of the year.
Praying for a son of South Bend tonight, as we all wish the best for @RyanJNewman and his family after today’s devastating accident. https://t.co/SCEMih5H8Y
