© 2026 ABC News

Newman has also been in good spirits as he recovers, his team said.

\"True to his jovial nature, he has also been joking around with staff, friends and family while spending time playing with his two daughters,\" the statement read.

Newman was leading the race when he skidded out, slammed into a wall and flipped over. He was then struck by at least one car from behind, which caused his car to fly into the air, slide on its roof and catch fire while still upside down.

\"PHOTO:
Peter Casey/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
PHOTO: NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman wrecks during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 17, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
>

In a statement to ABC News, NASCAR wished Newman well and said it was \"thankful\" that he had been discharged from the hospital.

\"We also want to thank and commend the first responders and doctors who responded immediately and continued their work this week,\" the statement read. \"NASCAR is conducting a thorough post-accident investigation. We look forward to providing more information once complete.\"

Denny Hamlin, who won the race for a second year in a row, spoke Wednesday about the safety measures NASCAR has implemented in the last decade.

\"Before competition, you got to have a car that's safe. You gotta have all your equipment that's safe,\" he told reporters during a news conference. \"The sport's been very fortunate to not have anything freak or weird happen for many, many years, but a lot of that is because of the development and the constant strives to make things better and safer.\"

Hamlin continued, \"I thank my lucky stars every day that I came in the sport when I did.\"

ABC News' Ivan Pereira and Matthew Stone contributed to this report.

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