In a pre-interview of the 62nd Daytona 500, Richard Childress, former NASCAR driver, made it clear that the NASCAR event was a welcoming place for the President who was the Grand Marshal of the race. “These are his people,” Childress said. 

Childress is the owner of Richard Childress Racing and a 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee. He said that Trump was a race fan long ago and would sit in the box with him in the early ’90’s. A pit box is a place to sit for the crew chief, race team members, parents, spouses and other important people.

NASCAR and Trump are definitely a great fit. It’s got American flags, the National Anthem, flyovers by the Air Force…everything that Trump loves. It’s America. The Daytona 500, the first NASCAR race of the season, is actually called “The Great American Race.” What better place for our President to be on a Sunday afternoon?

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A Zogby Analytics survey in 2018 showed that President Trump had a 64% approval among NASCAR fans so like Childress said, the fans are Trump’s people.

Air Force One flew in about 800 feet over the race track in what appeared to be their own flyover for the crowd. Former NASCAR drive Jeff Gordon commented about the atmosphere by saying, “never have I felt the excitement and the energy.”

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There were more than 100,000 people at the sold out event, with race fans in the stands waving the American flag and chanting “four more years” and “USA” when the President came out on the track with First Lady Melania Trump.

The River School Middle School Choir sang “God Bless America” with the Color Guard behind them. After that was the invocation, with thanks going out to the military, our country and our President the pastor talking about us being one nation under God.

Air Force sergeant and former American Idol contestant, Nalani Quintello, sang the National Anthem while President Trump and Melania had their hands over their hearts. The crowd and drivers did the same and many were singing along.

Right at the end of the National Anthem when the word “brave” was sang, six Air Force Thunderbird F-16s did a flyover in delta formation, only flying about three feet apart from each other at around 500 miles an hour.

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After the flyover, Fox’s NASCAR pit reporter for FOX, Jamie Little, interviewed the President and asked him his thoughts on being there. Trump said,“It really is the great American race and I look at this as almost a patriotism kind of thing. It’s incredible. The people are incredible. We love the area. We love the state. It’s exciting. You know I’ve been here four times before as a civilian and now I’m here in a different capacity. We love NASCAR and we love the people of NASCAR.”

He talked about the bravery of the drivers and the technology that’s improved the safety of the races over the last 10 years. He said, “I love to see it, I love to watch it.”

He ended the interview talking about wanting to hop into one of the race cars and getting into the race if possible. Melania laughed at his plans, probably wondering how he was going to slide in and out of the window.

Trump stood with Melania and told everyone, “We love our country and it’s an honor to be with you. Gentlemen, start your engines…”

After that, an announcement was made for the President to lead the drivers around the track. Trump got to pace the drivers around one lap in his 22,000 Caddy nicknamed “The Beast” with flags flying in the front of the vehicle. 

The limo stayed on the apron (inside track) because it wouldn’t be able to handle the 31 degree banking in the turns. The announcers speculated that they probably weren’t even doing the minimum 70 mph as they went around because of the truck chassis and weight of the vehicle.

After the lap, Trump asked for an officials radio to talk to drivers and crews. He said it was an honor to open the Daytona 500. He told them, “have a great day. Be safe. God bless you. We love you.”

The announcers talked about how Darryl Waltrip had gotten a call to join Air Force One on the fly in and that was probably where Trump asked him about doing a lap around the track. Permission granted.

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Daytona International Speedway president Chop Wile talked about the honor of having the President there. “Daytona International Speedway has been privileged to have hosted several sitting Presidents of the United States over our history. We’re honored that the President of the United States has chosen to experienced the pageantry and excitement of ‘The Great American Race’ by attending Sunday’s 62nd annual DAYTONA 500.”

The race ended up being postponed until Monday due to rain but it’s easy to see who will really end up taking the checkered flag this year at the Daytona 500. The cars might only turn left on the track, but NASCAR fans lean right and Trump ended up being a big winner.