After sending out a statement on Sunday confirming that Ryan Newman was “not cleared” to race, things have changed in the past 24-hours and now:
“Ryan Newman has been medically cleared to resume all racing activities,” per NASCAR officials.
By Jerry Jordan, Editor
When Ryan Newman’s car went flying through the air and was then hit by Corey LaJoie and catapulted into the catch fetch on the final lap of the 2020 Daytona 500, there were fears of the worst but less than a week later he walked out of the hospital and, on Sunday, he announced he was ready to return to the driver’s seat when NASCAR gets back to racing on real asphalt.
“That’s the absolute plan, for sure,” Newman told FOX Sports broadcaster Mike Joy, just minutes before the green flag fell for the 70-lap virtual race began. “I’m healthy. I’ve been blessed with another layer of this situation giving me more time to heal and look forward to being back in the seat, for sure.”
But just because Newman believes he is ready doesn’t mean he is cleared to race. A statement from the sanctioning body was sent to members of the core media seeking his current status per NASCAR’s rulebook for a driver to return following an injury.
“We share Ryan’s enthusiasm in his return to the track,” read the statement released Sunday. “We look forward to Ryan returning to racing as soon as he is medically cleared to race.”
NASCAR officials have to sign-off on his return even if his own doctors say he is good to go. The question had already been asked at Las Vegas Motor Speedway what the process was for Newman to be “cleared.” John Bobo, NASCAR vice-president of racing operations, said in Las Vegas the process involved Newman to be cleared by his “medical team for all racing activities and then NASCAR officials will “be in communications with them.”