Motor racing and crashes go hand in hand but once in a while, there’s a crash that sends a chill down everyone’s spine. The 2023 Cup Series season saw one in Daytona during the final regular-season race when Ryan Preece’s car flipped about a dozen times. 20 years ago, something similar happened to Ryan Newman and at the time, everyone watching the event had their hearts in their mouths.

2003 was an extremely sensitive time when it came to crashes, especially at the Daytona International Speedway. Just a couple of years ago, one of the greatest drivers of all time, Dale Earnhardt, had lost his life on the last lap of The Great American Race. Since that incident, NASCAR made several big changes to ensure driver’s safety, and thanks to that, Ryan Newman was able to walk out of his car relatively unscathed after the horrific accident.

When Ryan Newman crawled out of an upside-down car 20 years ago

In 2003, Ryan Newman drove the #12 car for Penske Racing South and he was looking for a positive start to the season after a sixth-place finish in the standings the year before. However, his hopes would soon turn to horror after a contact with Ken Schrader set off one of the freakiest accidents in the history of the sport.

Ken Schrader made contact with Newman and then the well after losing control of his car. The #12 car then crashed into the wall and dragged alongside it for a second or two. The right rear tire came clean out as a result. It then slid down and as soon as it made contact with the grass beside the track, the car went airborne and came crashing down, top-first, onto the ground and remained upside down.

The crowd was stunned into silence and perhaps a lot of people expected the worst. However, with some help from the stewards, Ryan Newman was able to crawl out of the wreck and walk away. He waved to the crowd on his way to the ambulance to a rousing applause and NASCAR knew that their safety measures saved a man’s life that day.

Ryan Newman has been a vocal advocate for driver safety for several years now and with good reason. He was the man who seemed to be involved in the most horrific of crashes across the 2000s and 2010s. Thankfully, he has been able to recover from each incident but he was never happy with how easily the cars would flip.

WATCH THIS STORY: Fans rally behind Kevin Harvick as he claps back at “smart ass” comment against his NASCAR career

Former Cup Series driver didn’t shy away from slamming NASCAR over safety concerns

Trending

Joe Gibbs Racing Warn Rick Hendrick Camp Against Underestimating Desperate Underdogs

April 30, 2024 10:48 PM EDT

“That’s What Dale Earnhardt Did”—NASCAR Veteran Dissects Rick Hendrick’s Call to Commit Financially Behind HMS Star

May 01, 2024 04:48 AM EDT

Kevin Harvick Rejects Kyle Larson’s Ineffective Solution, Condemning Over-Hyped NASCAR Controversy

May 01, 2024 06:07 PM EDT

Next-Gen Stats Sell Out Richard Childress’ Disgruntled Grandson as Riled Up Fans Beg to Preserve Dale Earnhardt’s Legacy

April 30, 2024 07:55 AM EDT

“I’m Frustrated”- Despite $400 Million Net Worth Tag, Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals His Only “Cheaper” NASCAR Miss

May 01, 2024 10:32 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NASCAR stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

In the 2009 NASCAR Cup Series season, Ryan Newman was involved in 2 airborne crashes, both of which took place at the Talladega Superspeedway. It seems like the 2008 Daytona 500 winner does not always have the best experience at superspeedways. In 2009, the 46-year-old took a dig at NASCAR and the fans who wanted to see those kinds of incidents.

“I had the rollbars down on top of my helmet. […] I wish NASCAR would do something. […] That’s not something anybody wants to see. At least I hope not, because if they do, ‘Go home, because you don’t belong here.’ It’s a product of this racing and what NASCAR has put us into. […] When I hit the roll-cage and landed on my head, I was a little worried. And I was happy to be able to walk out of that in a roundabout way,” he said as per 24/7 Sports.

It’s safe to say that Ryan Newman has been quite fortunate to walk away relatively unscathed from several dangerous accidents. Which one do you think was the 46-year-old’s worst crash?

Kevin Harvick Fans Can Now Grab Iconic Sunny Delight Throwback Die-Cast for Just $75