Will Donald Trump join Daytona 500? It has happened before

On February 10, 2025By Littum

President Trump can participate in Daytona 500 and mark an unusual event as presidents typically participate in an even number of election years.
Trump’s potential visits follow a pattern of presidents using Daytona 500 as a campaign stop, with Reagan, both Bush presidents and Trump, who even participate in the past.
Trump’s earlier participation in Daytona 500 in 2020 saw him lead the field in the president of the President Limousine, a sight that may be repeated if he participates this year.

If President Donald Trump actually confirms the rumors And participate in next Sunday Daytona 500, it will be pretty weird.

At least in the mathematical sense. These things are usually not performed in odd numbered years, but equally numbered years that happen to be similar to an upcoming presidential election.

If the president participates, less than a month after his second inauguration, it feels more like a victory. Maybe literally.

First, some short story …

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Ronald Reagan first made Daytona a remarkable campaign stop in July 1984, when he participated in FireCracker 400 in the middle of his re -election campaign.

President George HW Bush did the same in 1992, but came to February’s Daytona 500. Re -Election Campaign.

Trump participated in Daytona 500 at least three times as a private citizen, in 1999, 2000 and 2001, when he was in conversations with NASCAR leadership of trying to build a speedway in the New York City area.

President Trump led Field Daytona 500 in 2020

President Trump made a big splash in 2020 when he served as a storm lime. First, the Air Force One made a low flight past the packed Daytona International Speedway.

When the president-with-first Lady Melania was on the speedway property, and after some quick meetings and greetings along the start network, he gave the command to start engines and continued to enter one of the more memorable campaign events ever staged.

President Limousine, who all learned soon was nicknamed “The Beast” with Trump on board, joined the other tempo cars and safety vehicles in driving the 40-car field through his first parade parade before race.

A return trip for 2025 Daytona 500 would almost certainly include a retaliation of that scene.

At least it doesn’t rain on Donald Trump’s ‘Other’ Super Bowl

Five years ago, after the parade laps and falls of the green flag, things soon went south. Heavy and stable rain, things only stopped 20 laps into the 200-step race.

When the Presidential Party was traveling, 500 were exposed to the following day when it was eventually won by Denny Hamlin in the second straight year.

If President Trump comes to town next Sunday, it will give him a coward – kind – of this year’s Super Bowls, since 500 has long been called Nascar’s Super Bowl, albeit at the start of the season instead of the end of the season.

A big advantage with his New Orleans tour this Sunday: Rain will not be a factor inside the Superdome. Six times since 2003, Daytona 500 has either been shortened or exposed by rain, including last year, when it was moved to Monday 2020.

– E-mail ken willis at [email protected]