Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Fans blast NASCAR over handling of Ryan Newman Daytona 500 crash

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Jesse Reed | Last updated 2/17/20

Ryan Newman crossed the finish line of the Daytona 500 Monday night skidding on the tarmac upside down with his No. 6 engulfed in flames.

The scene was absolutely terrifying, as you can see here.

This is just terrifying pic.twitter.com/YUCyAI2HIt
— Matt Johnson (@MattJ_Sports) February 18, 2020

A terrible situation was made worse by the fact that Denny Hamlin was allowed to go about his business celebrating the victory as if nothing unusual had happened. He did the traditional celebratory spinouts, got out of his car and waved to the crowd…all while Newman’s situation had yet to resolve itself and safety crews attempted to extricate him from his vehicle.

Safety crews still working to extract NASCAR driver Ryan Newman in Turn 1
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) February 18, 2020

In the end, he was not safe, and had to be taken to the hospital.

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman is reportedly being taken to the hospital after his horrible crash at Daytona
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) February 18, 2020

At the end of our road where crews are attending to Ryan Newman after a brutal wreck at the end of the #DAYTONA500. No word yet if he’s okay or even out of his car. pic.twitter.com/ihQ3KtAME1
— Joe Kepner (@JKepnerWFTV) February 18, 2020

NASCAR drew scorn from fans and analysts watching the Daytona 500 for not putting a halt to the celebration while Newman’s situation was still unfolding.

Can we cutout the celebrations until we know Ryan Newman is ok? #DAYTONA500
— Arran Andersen (@arranandersen) February 18, 2020

What awkward and terrible coverage by Fox, NASCAR and Denny Hamlin for celebrating the end of the #DAYTONA500 while Ryan Newman's has been trapped in his demolished car for 10+ minutes…yikes
— Matt Gasper (@MattGasperTV) February 18, 2020

I was just thinking this. FOX is going to get some backlash for this… they should hold off interviews/celebration until Ryan Newman is out of his car. He's still stuck inside his car while the others are celebrating???? https://t.co/iGTLL5GJDR
— Matt Rudkin (@MattRudkinWSBT) February 18, 2020

Maybe we should wait to celebrate until Ryan Newman gets out of the car
— Gary David (@gcdavid) February 18, 2020

Can we stop with the celebration until we see Ryan Newman is OK? Seriously.
— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) February 18, 2020

New suggested rule for NASCAR. Hold the spinouts and celebrations until we confirm everyone is alive. Is that too much to ask?
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 18, 2020

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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