Denny Hamlin Wins Historic Third Daytona 500, Ryan Newman Hospitalized After Crash

Denny Hamlin won his second Daytona 500 and third in five years Monday, a historic feat that was tempered by the crash of Ryan Newman whose car turned in to a wall before flipping in the air, skidding through the finish line on fire. 

Newman, the 2008 Daytona champion, had to be pried from his car before transportation to the nearby hospital. Officials would reveal hours later that his injuries, though serious, were not life-threatening. 

The crash comes after years of massive safety improvements made to the sport following the fatal crash of racing legend Dale Earnhardt on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

The owner of Joe Gibbs Racing apologized for Denny Hamlin’s victory lap after his win explaining he was unaware of the severity of the accident at the time. Hamlin is the first driver since 1995 to win consecutive Daytona 500’s.