WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump is set to attend this Sunday’s Daytona 500 for the second time during his presidency, further enhancing his image as a sports enthusiast.
He previously attended the race in 2020 while campaigning for a second term. Trump was honored to be the grand marshal for NASCAR’s premier and most celebrated event of the year, where he famously issued the command for drivers to start their engines.
Additionally, Trump delighted thousands of NASCAR fans with an Air Force One flyover before riding into the Daytona International Speedway in the presidential limousine.
Just last weekend, the Republican made headlines as the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl. Trump’s interests extend to attending college football games, UFC fights, and his passion for golf.
Fans watch a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race from the rooftop of the Fan Zone in front of a video screen at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, July 15, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump ride in the presidential limousine as they take a pace lap ahead of the start of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 16, 2020. (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP, File)
When asked about his admiration for NASCAR, Trump expressed in a 2020 Fox News interview that it’s the “bravery and courage of the drivers seeking ‘pure American glory.’”
He characterized the Daytona 500 as a “legendary spectacle of roaring engines, vibrant spirits, and the American skill, speed, and power renowned for years. Today, tens of thousands of patriots gather for fast cars and top-tier motorsport, yet NASCAR supporters never forget that, regardless of the race’s winner, what truly matters is God, family, and country.”
The sport’s fanbase is generally perceived as leaning conservative.
In 2018, at the White House, Trump honored NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. and Furniture Row Racing.
In May, as a former president and a candidate for reelection, Trump attended the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, located in the pivotal state of North Carolina.
One NASCAR driver remarked that having a president present on Sunday for “one of our biggest days of the year is a remarkable occasion.”
“It definitely brings a lot of attention and a different perspective to what we do down here for this race,” commented Chase Elliott.
