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SPORTS Tuesday 18 February 2020
Hamlin wins 3rd Daytona 500; Newman hospitalized

By JENNA FRYER and I had nowhere to go
AP Auto Racing Writer but (into) smoke."
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Hamlin is the first driver since
— Denny Hamlin won his Sterling Marlin in 1995 to win
second straight Daytona consecutive Daytona 500s,
500 and third overall, beat- but his celebration in vic-
ing Ryan Blaney in an over- tory lane was subdued.
time photo finish marred by "I think we take for granted
a terrifying crash that sent sometimes how safe the
Ryan Newman to the hos- cars are and number one,
pital on Monday. we are praying for Ryan,"
Newman had surged into said Hamlin, who was un-
the lead on the final lap aware of Newman's situa-
when Blaney's bumper tion when he initially began
caught the back of his Ford his celebration.
and sent Newman hard It wasn't until Fox Sports told
right into the wall. His car him they would not inter-
flipped, rolled, was hit on view him on the frontstretch
the driver's side by anoth- after his burnouts that Ham-
er car, and finally skidded lin learned Newman's inci-
across the finish line en- dent was bad.
gulfed in flames. "It's a weird balance of ex-
It took several minutes for citement and happiness Denny Hamlin, right, celebrates as he and crew members hoist the championship trophy after
his car to be rolled back for yourself, but someone's winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb.
onto its wheels. The 2008 health and their family is 17, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Daytona 500 winner was bigger than any win in any Associated Press
placed in a waiting ambu- sport," he said. "We are just
lance and taken directly to hoping for the best." We are all just praying now having a Ford win it and got It allowed Newman to get
a hospital, and the dam- Team owner Joe Gibbs for the outcome on this." the bumpers hooked up past him for the lead, but
age to his Mustang was apologized after the race Runner-up Blaney said the wrong," he said. "It looked the bumping in the pack
extensive. It appeared the for the winning team cel- way the final lap shook bad." led to Newman's hard turn
entire roll cage designed ebration. out, with Newman surg- NASCAR gave no imme- right into the wall, followed
to protect his head had "We didn't know until victo- ing ahead of Hamlin, that diate announcement on by multiple rolls and a long
caved. ry lane," Gibbs said. "I know Blaney got a push from Newman's status and of- skid across the finish line.
Drivers were stricken with that for a lot of us, partici- Hamlin that locked him in ficials moved bystanders Hamlin's win last year was a
concern, including a rat- pating in sports and being behind Newman in a move away from the crash scene. 1-2-3 sweep for Joe Gibbs
tled Corey LaJoie, the driv- in things where there are of brand alliance for Ford. Hamlin had eight Ford driv- Racing and kicked off a
er who hit Newman's car as some risks, in a way, that's "We pushed Newman ers lined up behind him as yearlong company cele-
it was flipping. what they get excited there to the lead and then the leader on the second bration in which Gibbs driv-
"Dang I hope Newman is about. Racing, we know we got a push from the 11 overtime shootout without ers won a record 19 races
ok," he posted on Twitter. what can happen, we just ... I was committed to just a single fellow Toyota driver and the Cup champion-
"That is worst case scenerio dream it doesn't happen. pushing him to the win and in the vicinity to help him. ship. q

Florida could extend time for NCAA on student-athlete pay

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN ida would have allowed been under pressure to ad- billions of dollars in revenue, floor.
Associated Press athletes from some of the dress the issue. Last year, it including $1 billion annually Some lawmakers ex-
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — country's highest profile vowed to take up the mat- for the NCAA. But none of pressed misgivings about
Florida lawmakers sought sports programs to be the ter but gave no definitive that money is allowed to how quickly the NCAA will
to delay when college first in the country to reap timeline to do so. go to college athletes. act, but agreed to give it
athletes can begin strik- the benefits of a growing While there are still differing Republican Sen. Rob Brad- more time.
ing endorsement deals, movement to undo long- versions of the proposal, the ley said the legislation was Despite the many decades
and agreed to extend the standing NCAA prohibi- essence of the bills would long overdue, adding that the issue has been swirling
game clock on Monday tions. protect athletes from los- advertisers and sports pro- around college athletics,
for the NCAA on its own to If signed into law as ex- ing scholarships or being grams are profiting from said Sen. Oscar Braynon,
address the issue of com- pected, the new rules thrown off teams because college athletes "while the a Democrat, "they hadn't
pensation for the 450,000 would have gone into ef- of endorsement deals. players putting themselves come up with anything. ...
student athletes under its fect July 1. But a Florida For years, the NCAA had ar- at risk aren't making any I think they've had enough
purview. Senate committee on Mon- gued that allowing athletes money." time at this point."
But the move did not slow day unanimously agreed to profit from their prowess Nevertheless, he said, the Ever since California de-
the momentum that could to push back that date a in the field or arena would NCAA should be accorded cided to allow college
make Florida the second year, giving the collegiate do away with the distinc- more time to address the is- athletes to earn money off
state in the country — be- body some wiggle room. tion between amateur and sue on its own. their fame, a growing num-
hind California — to allow Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis professional athletes — a "I'd like to see what they ber of states are looking
student athletes to make has already expressed his notion that has been in- come up with," Bradley into similar action.
money off their names support for the effort. The creasingly dismissed by ad- said. Similar efforts are underway
much like professional ath- movement has gained vocates who say colleges The proposal has garnered in Georgia, Maryland, New
letes now do. steam not only among and the NCAA itself has for bipartisan support in the York, South Carolina and
While the California law lawmakers in Florida, but years profited from student Florida Legislature. Washington, among oth-
won't go into effect until across several other states. athletics. A similar proposal has al- ers. Congress may also be
2023, the proposal in Flor- As a result, the NCAA has College sports generate ready reached the House taking up the effort.q