Some NASCAR returns tend to be measured by the results they got. Quite a few of them are yet measured by how quickly fans remember why a certain name still matters.

One such name is Ryan Newman, who is set to return to racing six years after his horrific Daytona 500 crash. A post on social media by Kaulig Trucks read, “The Rocket Man will take the wheel of our No. 25 Ram 1500 at North Wilkesboro Speedway!”

Newman will drive the No. 25 Ram for Kaulig Racing. The last NASCAR event Newman competed in was the 2023 Cup Series Championship race, where he drove for Rick Ware Racing.

“I’m really excited to get back behind the wheel at North Wilkesboro and to be part of Ram’s Free Agent Program,” Newman said.

The program has already big names driving the No. 25 truck this year, including Tony Stewart, Travis Pastrana, Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray among others.

Newman has always been a driver known for his speed, aptly fitting his nickname, for after his 2003 Cup season, he held the record of producing a series-best 11 poles. But his crash in the Daytona 500 can never be forgotten.

In the 2020 Daytona 500, Newman was leading on the final lap of the race before his car hit the wall, went airborne, and was struck by Corey LaJoie. He then slid upside down, with later medical commentary detailing serious injuries to the driver.

That near-fatal crash, followed by a release from the hospital around 48 hours later, makes this comeback story more than another simple one. This exact resilience is what fans are now seeming to appreciate, with reaction visible throughout the community.

Fans back 'Rocket Man' for one more NASCAR charge

Fans did not just want to see Newman’s return as another nostalgic run. One wrote, “Newman could actually make some noise in this race. Would not be surprised to see him compete for a win, and hopefully, this opens up more doors for him to get back into NASCAR. I feel like he still has some racing left in him and has always been competitive.”

Another added, “This is the kind of drivers we’ve been wanting to see with this 'Free Agent Truck', can’t wait to see Newman back out there, just wish the trucks were more competitive.”

This excitement also went on as another added, “Rocket man back behind the wheel of anything is awesome.”

One fan also posted, “Ryan Newman is back, and he’s going to drive a Ram (Dodge Truck),” along with a SpongeBob meme titled “he’s back.”

The nostalgia, however, was not forgotten as one more fan remembered Newman’s Dodge past, writing, “I remember a long time ago Ryan wrecked out of a race & when he was being interviewed he said " its ok, its only a dodge " lol.”

This showcased that this return means much more to fans than just a driver back at the track. It represents someone who reminds fans of a fond past filled with fast racing times and a capacity that, for long, went unrecognised.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Uday Jakhar

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason