NASCAR driver and South Bend native Ryan Newman says he’s very lucky to still be alive after his horrifying crash in last month’s Daytona 500. In his first public interview since the crash, Newman told NBC’s “Today” show on Wednesday that the only injury he has is a bruised brain.
While leading on the final lap of the race, Newman was spun out. He crashed into the wall and flipped into the air. He was then hit — in the driver door — by another car traveling 190 miles per hour, and then flipped again before landing upside down.
He credits the advanced technology in NASCAR that saved his life.
