Daytona Beach, FL – As the NASCAR Cup Series wrapped up its final Daytona 500 practice session, longtime broadcaster Mike Joy made a noteworthy announcement—former U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
While no official statement has been released by NASCAR or Trump’s team, Joy’s mention on the FS1 broadcast adds to the anticipation surrounding “The Great American Race.” If confirmed, this would mark Trump’s second appearance at the Daytona 500, following his visit in 2020, when he served as the race’s Grand Marshal and gave the command to start engines.
A History of Presidential Appearances at Daytona
Trump’s potential visit continues a tradition of U.S. presidents engaging with NASCAR:
• Ronald Reagan (1984) – Became the first sitting president to attend a NASCAR race, watching Richard Petty win his 200th and final Cup race.
• George H.W. Bush (1992) – Attended the Daytona 500 and gave pre-race remarks.
• George W. Bush (2004) – Delivered the command to start engines before Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s first Daytona 500 victory.
• Donald Trump (2020) – Served as Grand Marshal and led the field on a pace lap in “The Beast,” the presidential limousine.
What This Means for the Race
A presidential visit often brings heightened security measures, media attention, and an added spectacle to an already high-profile event.
In 2020, Trump’s appearance was met with enthusiastic fanfare, including a flyover from Air Force One and a dramatic entrance onto the track. If he does attend in 2025, a similar reception could be expected.
With Sunday’s Daytona 500 already promising high-speed excitement, Trump’s potential presence would add another layer of intrigue to NASCAR’s biggest race of the year.
