In a dramatic turn during the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Richmond Raceway, Ryan Newman lost his lead after a collision with Corey LaJoie with 50 laps remaining. Newman, who was leading and starting on the outside of the front row for the restart, was forcefully hit from behind by LaJoie and slammed into the outside retaining wall, ending Newman’s race in 16th place and severely damaging his car.

This unexpected incident ended Newman’s chance at victory despite his strong position. The wreck left fans and participants shaken as the race unfolded under high tension on Thursday night.

Newman Reflects on the Crash and Lost Opportunity

Ryan Newman, a former NASCAR Cup Series driver, expressed mixed feelings about the collision, noting the inherent risks of Modified racing.

“I spun my tires a little bit but it’s Modified racing and you kind of have to expect some of that,”

Newman said. He added,

“Corey didn’t expect me to spin it, I guess, because he drove right through me…”

Newman had a solid strategy and qualified eighth before taking the lead.

“It’s unfortunate. We took a car that qualified eighth and was leading the race with 50 (laps) to go. I had a good strategy and, like I said, I spun the tires, but I wasn’t the only guy who spun my tires on the restart. So, I got drove through, got up into the fence, knocked the radiator out of it and we’re done.”

Reflecting on his chances, Newman was clear about the team’s potential.

“We were leading, we had a car capable. We were one of the five cars on the lead lap at the time. So yeah, we were capable of winning. That’s why it really, really sucks.”

Corey LaJoie Expresses Regret Over the Incident

Corey LaJoie managed to finish fifth despite an earlier transmission failure during the first practice. After the collision, LaJoie expressed regret about the wreck, emphasizing how fast events unfolded.

“I would have loved to cut him (Newman) a break, but it just happened so quickly,”

LaJoie said.

“I feel terrible about it. I even told myself to give a gap because I got wrecked at (North) Wilkesboro leading the same way…”

He explained the sequence leading to the crash:

“He spun ’em. I hit him and tried to get off him, but I think I hit him in the left rear bumper square enough to where it bit and hooked it right. I feel terrible. He had a good day going and I hate to wreck that. I hate to wreck him, I hate to wreck anybody.”

Impact of the Wreck on the Race and Future Implications

This collision between LaJoie and Newman dramatically altered the dynamics of the Richmond race, removing a strong contender and shifting momentum. Newman’s promising run ended unexpectedly, while LaJoie’s ability to recover and place fifth showed his resilience despite mechanical setbacks earlier in the day.

The wreck serves as a reminder of the high stakes and split-second decisions involved in NASCAR Modified racing, especially during critical restarts. Both drivers’ reactions reflect the fine line between competition and caution in motorsports, with emotions running high following this intense and somber event.