President Trump kicked off the official start to NASCAR season by flying over the Daytona International Speedway in Air Force One and taking several laps around the track in his presidential limo.
Trump arrived in Florida on Sunday to watch the Daytona 500, the first race of the NASCAR season. The president dropped in on the event while traveling back to Washington, D.C., after a weekend at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump made his entrance to the event with a flyby of the speedway in Air Force One. The crowd erupted into cheers as the president’s jet flew roughly 800 feet above the track.
Air Force 1 greeted with applause as it flies over #DAYTONA500.@realDonaldTrump arrives at the @NASCAR race. pic.twitter.com/5VHD9t86Vo
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 16, 2020
The president then traveled to the stadium in his limo, nicknamed “The Beast.” He rode in the car for a few laps around the racetrack to kick off the event. News of Trump’s plans to take his armored car around the track broke on Saturday, but the White House was still working out logistics at the time and was unsure if the president would make it.
The White House and NASCAR officials worked out the schedule, and Trump circled the speedway to more cheers from the fans.
The beast takes a few laps at the #DAYTONA500 race. pic.twitter.com/LEUBlpWAjA
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 16, 2020
Trump later addressed the crowd and announced the official start to the Daytona 500. NASCAR fans erupted in chants of “U.S.A.” when the president appeared onstage.
The crowd at the #Daytona500 breaks out in chants of
“U-S-A, U-S-A” as @realDonaldTrump begins his duties as Grand Marshal. pic.twitter.com/9Y4gtEj8sL— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 16, 2020
“NASCAR fans never forget that no matter who wins the race, what matters most is God, family, and country,” Trump told the crowd.
“NASCAR fans never forget that no matter who wins the race, what matters most is God, family, and country.”@realDonaldTrump speaks at the #Daytona500. pic.twitter.com/MszSap8LHa
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 16, 2020
NASCAR has named Trump the grand marshal of Sunday’s race, making him the first sitting president to hold the honor.
“Daytona International Speedway has been privileged to have hosted several sitting Presidents of the United States over our history,” Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile said in a statement. “We’re honored that the President of the United States has chosen to experience the pageantry and excitement of ‘The Great American Race’ by attending Sunday’s 62nd annual Daytona 500.”
