NASCAR weekly: Newman cleared to race, Kenseth replaces Larson
Ryan Newman was cleared to race for Roush Fenway Racing when the 2020 NASCAR season continues – Matt Kenseth replaces Kyle Larson at Chip Ganassi Racing
Good news from Ryan Newman! The Roush Fenway Racing driver was cleared to race and wants to get back behind the wheel for his team as soon as the 2020 NASCAR season resumes. The 42-year-old had a serious accident at the season opener in Daytona and had to take a break for several weeks due to a head injury.
“I am very happy and very grateful that I am healthy. And if the world keeps spinning, I’ll be back in the car again at some point,” Newman told ‘Fox Sports’. When asked whether his head injury has healed, the Roush-Fenway pilot confirms: “Yes, absolutely. I’m healthy!”
Chip Ganassi Racing has found a replacement for the fired Kyle Larson. The 2003 NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth will take over the #42 for the Chevrolet team when the 2020 NASCAR season continues. Kenseth will therefore be working with Kurt Busch. The two NASCAR veterans were already team mates at Roush Fenway Racing between 2000 and 2005.
Larson was fired by Chip Ganassi because of a racism scandal. The long-time driver of #42 had said the N-word in a voice chat during an iRacing event. He was then suspended by NASCAR, dropped by several sponsors and finally fired by Chip Ganassi.
At the virtual Talladega Superspeedway, Alex Bowman won the race against Corey LaJoie in the photo finish. But that was not the scene of the evening! Denny Hamlin was also in the race, but it came to a sudden end: His daughter used the remote control to switch off the monitor of the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon, who was involved in a spectacular crash, also took part in the race.
