As race grand marshal, US President Donald Trump is slated to give drivers the command to start their engines to begin the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday.
“The Daytona 500 is one of the greatest events in sports and the prestigious season-opening event to the NASCAR Cup Series,” DIS President Chip Wile said. “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 experience the pageantry and excitement of ‘The Great American Race’ by attending Sunday’s 62nd annual Daytona 500.”
Trump is the first US President to serve as grand marshal for the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s biggest race, and the second sitting president to attend the event, following President George W. Bush in 2004.
President Ronald Regan gave the command to start the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 1984, from Air Force One on his way to the event. After his arrival at the track, Richard Petty claimed his record 200th NASCAR premier series win.
Trump has been embraced by at least a portion of the NASCAR community. Former NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France endorsed Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, and former drivers Bill Elliott and Mark Martin and current driver Chase Elliott publicly supported Trumps campaign during a rally in Georgia.
Trump has hosted Cup Series champions at The White House each year of his presidency, and he awarded team owner Roger Penske with the Presidential Medal of Freedom last October.
