Blaney’s Attempted Push of Newman Led to Violent Crash

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Drafting, blocking and bumping are essential elements of racing on NASCAR's fastest tracks. When Ryan Blaney pushed fellow Ford driver Ryan Newman in the final lap of the Daytona 500, it was something both men have done hundreds of times on superspeedways. The maneuver is delicate, and a few inches can turn victory into chaos. Blaney's push sent Newman angling back into traffic, setting off the most violent wreck in Daytona since Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001. Newman remained hospitalized Tuesday.