NASCAR drivers will touch speeds of almost 200 MPH when the green flag waves for the Daytona 500 On Sunday when the season starts at Daytona International Speedway.
President Donald Trump was present before the start of the ‘Great American Race’. He led the drivers on a round before the race started. It is the second time he attended the event.
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President Donald Trump shakes his hand with Nascar Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty on the Nascar Daytona 500 on Daytona International Speedway, Sunday 16 February 2025, in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
In anticipation of the call to drivers to start their engines, Trump spoke with Jamie Little from Fox Sports and applauded the racers for competing in the event.
“They have a lot of courage to do this. I see it and I have been here,” said the president. “They have a lot of guts, as they would say.”
Trump, accompanied by his granddaughter on the circuit, emphasized the progress of the United States since he started his second term as president.
“I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s great for the country,” he said. “The country is doing well again. We have all over the world. There is spirit again, we brought it back and it is less than four weeks ago. You will see what we do in a small period. Better. But this is very exciting.
Trump had a message for the drivers on their radios before the green flag won.
President Donald Trump, with granddaughter Carolina, speaks during an interview at the Nascar Daytona 500, Sunday 16 February 2025 in Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’MeaRa)
Nascar -fans cheer when Trump arrives for Daytona 500 in Air Force One
“This is your favorite. I am a big fan. I am a very big fan of your people. (How) you do this, I don’t know. But I just want you to be safe. You are talented people and great people And great Americans.
Trump praised the American mind in a statement before he arrived in Daytona Beach, Florida.
“This iconic race shows the fastest, most fearless drivers in Motorsport, who represent the love of our nation for tradition, competition and car innovation,” said the statement. “The Daytona 500 brings people from all walks of life together of lifelong racing fans to the first spectators-they all jointly join the celebration of a shared passion for speed, adrenaline and the tension of the race.
“From the roar of the engines on the track to the ultrasound of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ that rises through the stands, the Daytona 500 is a timeless tribute to the speed, strength and unforgettable spirit that makes America great. That spirit is The Golden Age of America will feed, and if we use it, the future is really ours.
President Donald Trump waves when he arrives at Daytona Beach International Airport, Sunday, February 16, 2025, on his way to Nascar’s Daytona 500. (Pool via AP)
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The president was accompanied by Eric Trump, Luke Trump, transport secretary Sean Duffy, John Paul Duffy, Patrick Duffy, interior secretary Doug Burgum, Kathryn Burgum, Sens. Todd Young and Ashley Moody and Reps. Jason Smith, Byron Donalds and Mike Haridopolos.
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