Ryan Newman, the driver who survived a terrible crash at Monday’s Daytona 500 race, has been a longtime advocate for better safety in NASCAR racing.

In the past, the 42-year-old, who is hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries, has been a critic of dangerous tracks and the struggle to keep cars on the racing surface.

In 2010 he said that fans should not even go to the track to see races at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama saying that the number of crashes affected the championship and it was "not racing."

While he was fined for those comments by NASCAR, the evolution towards a safer racing environment was already underway.

That journey began after the last driver fatality in 2001. In that incident, Dale Earnhardt tragically died on the final lap of that year’s Daytona 500 in circumstances similar to Mr Newman’s crash.

Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Show all 20 1 /20 Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash 42-year-old Ryan Newman is in a serious condition after a horrific crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash Newman was leading the race as the field approached the finish line. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash The No 12 of Ryan Blaney spun Newman into the outside wall. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash Newman's car flashed in front of eventual race-winner Denny Hamlin. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash Newman's Ford made a heavy impact with the outside barrier and flipped over. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash Newman was then struck by the No 32 of Corey LeJoie who was left with nowhere to go. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash The secondary impact catapulted Newman back into the air. USA TODAY Sports Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash The impact was with the driver's side door and crumpled the cockpit. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash The rest of the field flashed by as Newman's car went airborne. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash It is not the first time that Newman has been involved in a serious accident at Daytona. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash The Ford slid for hundreds of metres after the accident. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash The incident took place on the home stretch of the final lap. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash Newman's car continued to slide on its roof as sparks began to fly from it. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash Eventually it came to a rest on the apron with sparks still being produced. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash The Ford caught fire as it came to a rest. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash Safety crews rushed to Newman's aid to put out the flames and tend tot he injured driver. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash Medical crews took two hours to extract Newman from his car. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash Large black screens were erected to keep prying eyes from seeing the worst of the accident. USA TODAY Sports Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash Newman was eventually extracted once the car was flipped back onto its wheels. Getty Images Ryan Newman's Nascar Daytona 500 crash Ryan Newman crash An ambulance took Newman to a nearby hospital where it was confirmed he was in a serious condition but not life threatening. USA TODAY Sports

Since 2001 NASCAR has changed its safety regulations in a number of ways. There has been a focus on the driver and his seat as the starting point for innovations. For example, the introduction of revolutionary seat belts that also protect the head and neck — the Hubbard Head and Neck Support (HANS) devices which reduces pressure on the spine and helps stop whiplash.

Roof flaps have been fitted to make it more difficult for cars to become airborne at the high speeds at which they race. Window nets now shield the driver from debris and protect their arms during a crash.

For the tracks themselves, the walls that surround each of them are now covered in Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barriers to absorb the energy of any impact. These were rolled out across the NASCAR circuit after crashes at both Atlanta and Daytona speedways in which drivers sustained injuries after hitting concrete walls.

Mr Newman’s life was almost certainly saved by these innovations. His crash — in which he first hit the outside wall, flipped over, caught fire after impacting another car in mid-air, before sliding across the finish line on its roof — would have once been fatal.

His team, Roush Fenway Racing, provided an update on his condition just 24 hours after the crash saying that Mr Newman is now awake and recuperating at the Halifax Medical Centre in Daytona Beach. He has been able to speak with doctors and his family.

“Ryan and his family have expressed their appreciation for the concern and heartfelt messages from across the country,” Roush Fenway Racing said in a statement. “They are grateful for the unwavering support of the NASCAR community and beyond.”

President Trump tweeted that he is praying for Mr Newman.

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg also sent best wishes and prayers as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Mr Newman's hometown.

Mr Newman is an engineering graduate of Purdue University. He has two daughters with his wife, Krissie, and is a car enthusiast and passionate animal welfare advocate.