- Reports say President Trump is planning to attend the Daytona 500 on Sunday. It would be his second major sporting event in a week.
- Trump attended the race as Master of Ceremonies during his first administration in 2020.
- The presidential limousine, known as “The Beast,” could once again moonlight as the pace car.
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President Donald Trump is planning to attend the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 16, multiple outlets are reporting. If he attends NASCAR’s kickoff event, it will be his second major sporting event in a week.
Trump made history Sunday, Feb. 9, in New Orleans as the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. He roamed the sidelines at the Superdome, meeting players and shaking hands before the game. He sat in a suite with New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, his host, and left at halftime when the Philadelphia Eagles were comfortably up, 24-0.
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Meanwhile, if he does attend the Great American Race, it would be the third time a sitting president has been to Daytona for the event and Trump’s second time while in office. George W. Bush attended in 2004.
Several presidential candidates, including Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, have also been to the speedway over the years. During his first visit as president in 2020, Trump delivered the most famous words in racing.
“Daytona International Speedway, we love our country, and it’s truly an honor to be with all of you at the Great American Race. Gentlemen, start your engines!” Trump said.
With Trump on board, the presidential limousine led the 40-car field around the racetrack as the pace car. The armored limo, known as “The Beast,” will likely do the same before this year’s race.
Trump, sitting alongside First Lady Melania Trump, explained why he is a fan of NASCAR racing during a pre-race interview with Fox Sports.
“It takes great courage, it’s the speed, it’s really the technology,” Trump said. “You look at what’s happened over the last 10 years with the cars. I love to see it; I love to watch it.”
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The reaction to the president’s possible visit has sparked some concern from race fans. However, in more of a superstitious than political way. There have been a few major accidents on the track after some of Trump’s previous visits, and those fans worry it could happen again Sunday.
First the Super Bowl, now President Donald Trump may make it two big sporting events in back-to-back weeks. Multiple reports say the President may attend NASCAR’s kickoff event, the Daytona 500 on February 16th.
President Trump made history Sunday in New Orleans becoming the first sitting Commander-In-Chief to attend the Super Bowl. He roamed the sidelines at the Superdome, meeting players and shaking hands before the game. He sat in a suite with New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and left at halftime with the Eagles up comfortably 24-0.
If he does attend it would be the third time a sitting president has been to Daytona for the event and Trump’s second time while in office. George W. Bush attended in 2004. Several presidential candidates have also been to the speedway over the years including Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
During his first visit as president in 2020, Trump delivered the most famous words in racing.
“Daytona International Speedway we love our country and it’s truly an honor to be with all of you at the Great American Race, Gentlemen, start your engines!”
The presidential limousine, with the President on board then led the 40-car field around the racetrack as the “pace car”. The armored limo known as “The Beast”, will likely do the same before this year’s race. During the same pre-race festivities, the President and First Lady also told Fox Sports why he enjoys NASCAR racing.
“It takes great courage, it’s the speed, it’s really the technology, you look at what’s happened over the last 10 years with the cars. I love to see it; I love to watch it.”
The reaction to the President’s possible visit has sparked some concern on-line from superstitious race fans – but not in a political way. There have been a few major accidents on the track after some of Trump’s previous visits and those fans worry it could happen again Sunday.
For Straight Arrow News, I’m Chris Francis.
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