Sports
Denny Hamlin After Daytona 500 Win: ‘All I’m Thinking About Is Ryan Newman’
Brian Lawdermilk/Getty ImagesDenny Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 champion, successfully repeating at Daytona International Speedway on Monday.However, the health of Ryan Newman overshadowed the result.”The finish, the history, that’s all great,” Hamlin said in a postrace interview, per ESPN’s Ryan McGee. “One day it will all sink in. But right now all I’m thinking…
Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 champion, successfully repeating at Daytona International Speedway on Monday.
However, the health of Ryan Newman overshadowed the result.
“The finish, the history, that's all great,” Hamlin said in a postrace interview, per ESPN's Ryan McGee. “One day it will all sink in. But right now all I'm thinking about is Ryan Newman.”
Dan Lucas @WFLADan
Denny Hamlin says he realized that Ryan Newman’s situation was serious when he was told “no track interview”. Now he’s waiting for updates on Newman. #Daytona500 https://t.co/PcLMHlcmRO
Hamlin held off Ryan Blaney on the final lap in what was the second-closest finish (0.014 seconds) in race history. Newman was briefly in the lead before contact from Blaney sent him into the wall and airborne. Hamlin surged ahead of Blaney as Newman's overturned No. 6 car skidded to a stop.
Fox's Jeff Gordon and Mike Joy provided an update on Newman's status after the race:
FOX: NASCAR @NASCARONFOX
Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon provide an update on Ryan Newman's status. https://t.co/1lppd0zazz
As track personnel tended to Newman, Hamlin enjoyed what was a subdued celebration given the circumstances:
Daytona International Speedway @DISupdates
BACK-TO-BACK FOR @dennyhamlin 🙌
#DAYTONA500 | @JoeGibbsRacing https://t.co/3TdtN0iJi0
Evan FitzgeraldFOX35 @EvanWFitzgerald
3rd Daytona 500 win for Hamlin, 2nd in a row. 4th driver to go back to back at @DISupdates @fox35orlando https://t.co/HAewmtE1ey
Team owner Joe Gibbs addressed the crowd and said the Joe Gibbs Racing members were unaware of the severity of Newman's crash when Hamlin was celebrating:
Jon Alba @JonAlba
Joe Gibbs reiterates his team was completely unaware of the severity of the Ryan Newman wreck. They found out in Victory Lane and immediately became concerned. #Daytona500 #NASCAR
Hamlin is now tied with Bobby Allison, Dale Jarrett and Gordon for the third-most wins in Daytona 500. Richard Petty has the all-time record with seven.
The NASCAR Cup Series moves to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400 on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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