A couple separate but intrinsically linked events that were to occur on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, were poised to make this year’s Daytona 500 one of the most epic races seen in quite some time.
First and foremost, President Donald Trump wasn’t just slated to be present, thus making him the second sitting president after George W. Bush to ever attend the famed NASCAR race — but he was also slated to take a single lap around the Daytona International Speedway in his presidential limo, aka “The Beast.”
Do the words “HELL YEAH” mean anything to you!?
Getting ready to go to the Daytona 500. Will be GREAT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 16, 2020
President Trump rolling up to the Daytona 500 tomorrow pic.twitter.com/a0N71btDPS
— ALX ?? (@alx) February 15, 2020
— Joan_Shyam1 (@Jodesai108) February 15, 2020
— 1776ersUnited (@1776ersUnited) February 15, 2020
#mood ??????
Thank you, Mr President!@realDonaldTrump @DISupdates pic.twitter.com/C8wrDPULB5— Blunder Blix (@BlunderBlix) February 15, 2020
— Fernando Remirus (@FRemirus) February 16, 2020
— Texas Freedom Fighter (@combatdeathdog) February 16, 2020
Can’t wait Mr. President @realDonaldTrump
ZQQM? ZQQM? ZQQM #DAYTONA500 #WeAreTheNewsNow #WWG1WGA #GreatAwakening #AmericaFirst ??❤?? pic.twitter.com/ZMnRxZYmvz— Margaret ?? °nonaQ° ☔?❤?? ?? ??? (@mskeens1962) February 16, 2020
hell yes pic.twitter.com/2Jj2L2ou5Y
— ⌇⏕⎶ (@radium_corp) February 16, 2020
— Brendan M Wilson (@AmericanBMW) February 16, 2020
Second, the president was slated to release a Daytona 500-themed 2020 presidential campaign ad.
A preview of the ad was posted on Instagram early Sunday afternoon by none other than the president’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr.
Watch (disable your adblocker if the video doesn’t appear):
The original post can be seen on Trump Jr.’s Instagram page.
“Many people in Trump’s conservative base are NASCAR fans, and Trump’s campaign is taking advantage of the president’s appearance to fly an aerial banner near the speedway and run a television ad during the Fox broadcast of the race,” Reuters reported Sunday morning.
“NASCAR fans are patriots who support the president in huge numbers, so we definitely wanted to communicate directly with them about Keeping America Great during the Great American Race,” Trump’s 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said in a statement.
Fact-check: VERY TRUE.
A Zogby poll conducted two years ago found that among NASCAR fans, the president enjoyed a 64 percent approval rating versus the 46 percent rating he boasted among the American people at large.
Third, one of the drivers in Sunday’s race, veteran NASCAR racer Joe Nemechek, was planning on racing in the beauty seen below:
The Trump 2020 car for Joe Nemechek has arrived in Daytona.
Credit: Mike Harmon Racing #Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/T0lrxwZYem
— Jimmy Hollis (@BamaHollis) February 15, 2020
And originally Nemechek wasn’t going to be alone in his pro-Trump racing, but “a mishap far from Florida caused a second Trump 2020 entry, a Chevy Silverado in Friday night’s NextEra Energy 250, to drop out,” according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
“A disappointed [Tim] Viens said Friday afternoon as his car was traveling from Chicago, its hauler slid off the road somewhere in Tennessee. The car was unable to make it to Daytona Beach by 8 a.m. Thursday morning, so it was scratched from the truck race,” the paper reported.
“Viens, who found a PAC willing to sponsor his and Nemechek’s rides, said the idea was borne out of his political stance. ‘I support the president. I support him and I’m gonna continue to support him,’ Viens said.”
Good man!
#NASCAR News: Tim Viens Says That the Affarano Motorsports Trump Truck Will Not Compete at Daytona https://t.co/mb0MDsUGKR pic.twitter.com/ruJq1cmBUq
— TobyChristie.com (@Toby_Christie) February 13, 2020
Meanwhile, though she wasn’t going to participate in the Daytona 500, racer Hailie Deegan was hoping to get her helmet signed by the president:
Today’s goal. Get my helmet signed by Trump https://t.co/5v9y2vrjPg
— Hailie Deegan (@HailieDeegan) February 16, 2020
The love affair between the president and NASCAR is one for the ages, in that it’s existed for decades, though only after his 2015 declaration did things really heat up.
After Trump declared his candidacy, NASCAR racer Korbin Forrister began sporting a “Trump for President” banner on his ride:
Truck Series driver Korbin Forrister had “Trump For President” #08 on his Truck at Eldora & Pocono in 2015.. finished 24th & 27th pic.twitter.com/yIhiV63fcU
— E. Pluribus Wiggum ?????????????????? (@EPluribusWiggum) July 17, 2017
The following year, NASCAR CEO Brian France and a bevy of drivers endorsed him for president.
“Mr. Trump is changing American politics forever and his leadership and strength are desperately needed,” France said in a statement at the time. “He has had an incredible career and achieved tremendous success. This is what we need for our country.”
The president returned the favor in 2017 by giving NASCAR a shout-out for the respect it always shows for the national anthem and American flag.
Richard Petty and Richard Childress made it public they expected their teams to stand during Sunday’s national anthem in New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/R1lawMFoAo
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) September 24, 2017
So proud of NASCAR and its supporters and fans. They won’t put up with disrespecting our Country or our Flag – they said it loud and clear!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 25, 2017
Brad Pascale shared an image of a full house anticipating the President and a great race:
Video: Trump addressing the #Daytona500 audience pre-race to raucous applause -> “My fellow race fans, there is no greater thrill than to join you at the World Center of Racing for the 620nd second Daytona 500 — so exciting!” pic.twitter.com/b3sx02PpVA
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 16, 2020
Trump buzzed the crowd before finally landing:
Now, that’s an arrival!! @realDonaldTrump #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/vX5sTQpw0J
— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) February 16, 2020
Listen as Trump addresses the roaring crowd:
Video: Trump addressing the #Daytona500 audience pre-race to raucous applause -> “My fellow race fans, there is no greater thrill than to join you at the World Center of Racing for the 620nd second Daytona 500 — so exciting!” pic.twitter.com/b3sx02PpVA
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 16, 2020
President and FLOTUS looking sharp:
Bing bing bing let’s go racin boys #Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/kfNxqpcxna
— Ryan Phillips (@JournoRyan) February 16, 2020
Watch as “The Beast” rolls onto the track:
The Beast carrying @realDonaldTrump has rolled onto the racetrack. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/mA0ZiDTOdB
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 16, 2020
WATCH:
In The Beast, @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS take a lap around the Daytona International Speedway before the start of the #DAYTONA500! pic.twitter.com/yemfsy0wN2
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 16, 2020
“First Presidential motorcade honorary pace car,” says Twitter user Lynn Brown.
First Presidential motorcade honorary pace car #TheBeast #DAYTONA500 first ?? pic.twitter.com/yaUSU2jpCG
— Lynn Brown⭐⭐⭐ (@LearnIt2EarnIt) February 16, 2020
And then Trump closed out his lap with a special message to all of the drivers and their crews:
. @realDonaldTrump just got on the radio from the Beast and said:
“Drivers, this is President Trump and it was an honor to open the Daytona 500, have a phenomenal day, have a great race, be safe, God Bless you, we love you.”
THIS IS EPIC #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/Rp4Oc3pWn9
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) February 16, 2020
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.
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