Ryan Newman felt like 'a walking miracle' after Daytona crash

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 12: Ryan Newman, driver of the #6 Koch Industries Ford, speaks with the media during the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images Sport / Getty

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman spoke about his horrific Daytona 500 crash for the first time Thursday and admitted that surviving the accident was a miracle.

On Feb. 17, Newman was transported to a hospital and put into a medically induced coma by doctors after a violent crash during the race's final lap.

Two days later, he walked out of the facility holding the hands of his two daughters and has since been cleared to return to racing.

"That tells me God was involved," Newman said, according to ESPN's Ryan McGee. "I was blessed in more ways than one. I feel like a walking miracle."

Newman will race for the first time since the Daytona crash this Sunday at Darlington Raceway. The event is NASCAR's first since the coronavirus outbreak.

He's ready and excited for the opportunity to get behind the wheel again.

"Sunday at Darlington is going to be a huge opportunity for us to reach millions of people," Newman explained. "We are all going to work really hard to make the best of it. ... I'm hoping to do every lap and then one more after that."

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