DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 08: Corey LaJoie, driver of the #32 RagingBull.com Ford, practices for the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 08, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Corey LaJoie kneeled beside his car after the massive impact with Ryan Newman
Shane Walters
LaJoie details the moments after the Daytona 500 crash
Ryan Newman was hooked by Ryan Blaney in the final lap of the Daytona 500. An aggressive block saw the race leader heading toward the fence, just a few hundred feet from the finish.
As Newman bounce off the wall, the car flipped onto it’s roof. That’s when Corey LaJoie came into the scene at 200mph and knocked Newman in the drivers side door.
After the race, Corey LaJoie did several interviews. In each of them, he showed a genuine concern.
“My feelings have changed a little bit now that Bob [Pockrass] said he went straight to the hospital. That’s obviously scary,” Corey LaJoie stated to MRN as he heard the news.
“I got a big push there, coming to the white. Don’t know who hooked Newman. I was hoping he’d bounce of the fence, to the left.”
“But, he didn’t and I hit him. I don’t know where I hit him.”
Newman was transported to the hospital after the race. Yesterday, he was released, without shoes.
However, it’s been announced that Ross Chastain will fill the seat of the No. 6 car as Newman is out due to injury. The extent of injury remains unclear.
Yet, a lot of the focus was on Ryan Newman this week. However, there’s another driver that escaped injury.
After the impact, Corey LaJoie climbed from his race car. As the car was on fire, LaJoie kneeled beside his car with his helmet still on.
Corey LaJoie on the crash with Ryan Newman
“They say a picture is worth 1000 words,” Corey LaJoie opened in an instagram post. “A lot of speculation as to what was going through my little noggin here.”
“Here’s the facts. The wind was knocked out of me so I was catching my breath, I was wiggling my fingers and toes to make sure they were still connected.”
“I was confused as my brain tried to process what my body just went through and I was hurting from the sub straps containing the force of the frontal impact.”
“While I was down there I did send up a “thank you Jesus for your hand of protection” prayer and at that moment I had no idea who I hit or the severity of it. I’m hearing very optimistic things on Ryan’s condition so your prayers are working guys, keep it rolling.”