Ryan Newman ready to return in May (2nd Update)

Ryan Newman

UPDATE A day after being medically cleared following recovery from his last-lap Daytona 500 crash, Ryan Newman has been granted a playoff waiver from NASCAR and will be eligible to run for the Championship.

Newman, in his 19^th full season in the NASCAR Cup Series, missed three races – all on the West Coast – and is 29^th in owners points. He will pilot the No. 6 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway when NASCAR returns to the track.

04/27/20 ï»¿NASCAR confirmed Monday that Ryan Newman has been medically cleared to race.

The announcement comes a day after Newman stated that his doctors said it was OK for him to return to racing when the NASCAR season resumes, which could be as soon as the May 16-17 weekend at Darlington Raceway.

“I’m excited to be healthy and at some point to get back in the race car when the world starts turning again and thankful for the people and support that I’ve gotten, friends and family and fans, you name it, that have prayed for me and given me this multitude of miracles that has given me this opportunity to get back in the seat at some point," Newman said on Fox before last weekend’s Pro Invitational Series race at a virtual Talladega Superspeedway.

04/26/20 Ryan Newman announced Sunday that the plan is for him to resume driving once NASCAR returns.

Newman made the announcement Sunday on Fox and FS1 before Sunday’s Pro Invitational Series race at a virtual Talladega Superspeedway.

Newman suffered a brain bruise in a last-lap crash of the Daytona 500 on February 16.

Asked if that meant when NASCAR returns to the track – which could be as soon as May 17 at Darlington Raceway – Newman said:

“That’s the absolute plan for sure. I’m healthy … and look forward to being back in the seat for sure."

NASCAR stated that it has not cleared Newman to drive yet.

NASCAR stated: “We share Ryan’s enthusiasm in his return to the track. We look forward to Ryan returning to racing as soon as he is medically cleared to race."