Tag: Daytona

  • Trump’s Daytona 500 visit draws criticism from David Hogg

    Trump’s Daytona 500 visit draws criticism from David Hogg

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    Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg took heat on social media on Monday as he criticized President Donald Trump for his appearance at the Daytona 500.

    Trump was at Daytona International Speedway for the event and became the first president to be at the race twice. He was in the presidential limousine, “The Beast,” as it led drivers on a pace lap before the green flag dropped. He also delivered a personal message to racers as well.

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    President Donald Trump, center, greets drivers at the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Pool via AP)

    As Trump said the spirit of NASCAR and its fans will “fuel America’s Golden Age,” Hogg claimed the president’s decision to go to the race was nothing more than a “publicity stunt.”

    “Driving in circles for a multi million dollar publicity stunt while claiming you care so much about ‘efficiency’ as thousands are illegally fired from their jobs and prices continue to climb is the perfect symbolism for the Trump admin,” Hogg wrote on X.

    The DNC official faced criticism for his remarks.

    ELON MUSK’S 1-WORD REACTION TO TRUMP’S DAYTONA 500 LAP IN ‘THE BEAST’

    Hogg took over as the DNC vice chair earlier this month. He rose to prominence as a survivor of the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school shooting and founded a political action committee in 2023, which he said aims to help young progressives get elected to Congress and state legislatures across the country.

    "The Beast" on Daytona 500

    President Donald Trump rides in the presidential limousine known as “The Beast” as he takes a pace lap ahead of the start of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Pool via AP)

    Trump praised NASCAR drivers during his appearance at the race.

    “They have a lot of courage doing this. I see it and I’ve been here,” the president told FOX Sports’ Jamie Little. “They have a lot of guts, as they would say.”

    Trump, who was joined on the track by his granddaughter, highlighted the progress of the United States since he started his second term as president.

    David Hogg in 2024

    David Hogg, an American gun control activist, speaks during the Texas Democratic Party Convention in El Paso, Texas, at the El Paso Convention Center on Friday, June 7, 2024. (GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES / USA TODAY NETWORK)

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    “I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s great for the country,” he said. “The country is doing well again. We have spirit all over the world. There’s spirit again, we brought it back and it’s been less than four weeks. You’ll see what we do in a little period of time. It’s gonna only get better. But this is very exciting.”

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  • Trump’s Daytona 500 visit draws Elon Musk’s reaction

    Trump’s Daytona 500 visit draws Elon Musk’s reaction

    Elon Musk, the billionaire mogul in charge of Tesla, X, SpaceX and the Department of Government Efficiency, had one word to describe President Donald Trump’s time at NASCAR’s Daytona 500.

    Trump was a fixture in the pre-race festivities on Sunday. He rode in “The Beast” as it went around Daytona International Speedway for one lap. He also had a special message for the drivers, which was broadcast on their radios before the green flag flew.

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    President Donald Trump, center, greets drivers at the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Pool via AP)

    “This is your favorite president. I’m a big fan,” he said. “I’m a really big fan of you people. (How) you do this, I don’t know. But I just want you to be safe. You’re talented people and great people and great Americans. Have a good day. Have a lot of fun and I’ll see you later.”

    Musk reacted on X.

    “Awesome,” he wrote.

    Trump and the contingency of people who flew on Air Force One with him for the race were three for a few laps. However, rain delayed the restart for a few hours.

    It was William Byron who drove his car to Victory Lane on Sunday night. It was the second straight year he won the Daytona 500.

    RYAN PREECE THOUGHT OF DAUGHTER AS CAR FLEW THROUGH AIR IN SCARY WRECK AT DAYTONA 500

    "The Beast" on Daytona 500

    President Donald Trump rides in the presidential limousine, known as “The Beast,” as he takes a pace lap ahead of the start of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Pool via AP)

    Trump applauded the courage drivers have going at speeds of nearly 200 mph to win a race.

    “They have a lot of courage doing this. I see it, and I’ve been here,” the president told FOX Sports’ Jamie Little. “They have a lot of guts, as they would say.”

    Trump, who was joined on the track by his granddaughter, highlighted the progress of the United States since he started his second term as president.

    William Byron celebrates

    William Byron celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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    “I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s great for the country,” he said. “The country is doing well again. We have spirit all over the world. There’s spirit again, we brought it back and it’s been less than four weeks. You’ll see what we do in a little period of time. It’s gonna only get better. But this is very exciting.”

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  • Ryan Preece thought of daughter as car flew through air in scary wreck at Daytona 500

    Ryan Preece thought of daughter as car flew through air in scary wreck at Daytona 500

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    Ryan Preece was thinking about what really matters in life, as his No. 60 car was airborne with just five laps to go in the 67th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday night. 

    Preece was in the middle of the pack when a wreck at the top of the race impacted him in the worst way, with Christopher Bell’s No. 20 car smashing into him, causing his vehicle to fly through the Florida night. 

    When Preece’s car touched the track again, it was flipped upside down, still traveling at a high rate of speed before ultimately getting back to normal and slamming into the wall. 

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    NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece, #60, gets airborne after a wreck during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

    Thankfully, Preece walked out of the wreck unscathed, though there was a moment while he was in the air that he started to think about family, specifically his daughter, Rebecca Marie.

    “Yeah, I don’t know if it’s the diffuser or what that makes these cars like a sheet of plywood when you walk out on a windy day,” Preece told FOX Sports in an interview after getting off the track. 

    “But, when the car took off like that, and it got real quiet, all I thought about was my daughter. So, I’m lucky to walk away.”

    Multiple angles of the wreck showed just how scary the wreck was, including a look from the No. 43 car of Erik Jones, who was involved in the spin-outs as well. 

    WILLIAM BYRON CAPTURES 2ND STRAIGHT DAYTONA 500 VICTORY IN OVERTIME LAP THRILLER

    From Jones’ vantage point, Bell’s car coming off the right wall came out of nowhere, and Preece got all of it. 

    The front of the vehicle immediately lifted into the air, and like Preece said, the windy conditions – two delays came in this race from inclement weather – made the car lift off the track altogether. 

    Ryan Preece's car flips at Daytona 500

    NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece, #60, gets airborne after a wreck during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

    This is the second time in Preece’s career he has flipped at Daytona, so while he has experienced this before, it is never a good feeling to have to go through that. 

    Preece was reflective with Frontstretch after the race as well, adding that “something needs to be done” with the cars because they should not be lifting off the course like he did. 

    “The one thing I want to say as a father, as a racer, is we keep beating on a door hoping for a different result. We know where there’s a problem at Superspeedways. So, I don’t want to be the example of when it finally gets somebody – I don’t want it to be me. I got a two-year-old daughter, and just like a lot of us, we have families. 

    Ryan Preece's car flips at Daytona 500

    NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece, #60, gets airborne after a wreck during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

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    “So, something needs to be done because cars lifting off the ground like that, that honestly felt worse than Daytona in ’23.”

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  • William Byron captures 2nd straight Daytona 500 victory in overtime lap thriller

    William Byron captures 2nd straight Daytona 500 victory in overtime lap thriller

    William Byron won the Dayton 500, which was a marathon on Sunday night, after rain delays and yellow caution flags ultimately led to some overtime laps. 

    And those two overtime laps were an absolute thrill that saw multiple spin-outs and crashes that allowed Byron to win the Daytona 500 for the second consecutive year.

    Six of the last eight Daytona 500 races have ended in overtime. 

    This is a developing story. More to come.

  • Trump applauds ‘guts’ of NASCAR drivers ahead of Daytona 500, sends them special message

    Trump applauds ‘guts’ of NASCAR drivers ahead of Daytona 500, sends them special message

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    NASCAR drivers will hit speeds of nearly 200 mph when the green flag waves for the Daytona 500 on Sunday as the season begins at Daytona International Speedway.

    President Donald Trump was on hand for the start of the “Great American Race.” He led the drivers on a lap before the race started. It’s the second time he’s attended the event.

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    President Donald Trump shakes hands with NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty at the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

    Ahead of the call for drivers to start their engines, Trump talked to FOX Sports’ Jamie Little and applauded the racers for competing in the event.

    “They have a lot of courage doing this. I see it and I’ve been here,” the president said. “They have a lot of guts, as they would say.”

    Trump, who was joined on the track by his granddaughter, highlighted the progress of the United States since he started his second term as president.

    “I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s great for the country,” he said. “The country is doing well again. We have spirit all over the world. There’s spirit again, we brought it back and it’s been less than four weeks. You’ll see what we do in a little period of time. It’s gonna only get better. But this is very exciting.”

    Trump had a message for the drivers on their radios before the green flag waved.

    Trump and Jamie Little

    President Donald Trump, with granddaughter Carolina, speaks during an interview at the NASCAR Daytona 500, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

    NASCAR FANS CHEER AS TRUMP ARRIVES FOR DAYTONA 500 IN AIR FORCE ONE

    “This is your favorite. I’m a big fan. I’m a really big fan of you people. (How) you do this, I don’t know. But I just want you to be safe. You’re talented people and great people and great Americans. Have a good day. Have a lot of fun and I’ll see you later.”

    Trump touted the American spirit in a statement before he arrived in Daytona Beach, Florida.

    “This iconic race showcases the fastest, most fearless drivers in motorsports, who represent our Nation’s love of tradition, competition, and automotive innovation,” the statement read. “The Daytona 500 brings together people from all walks of life—from lifelong racing fans to first-time spectators—they all join in celebrating a shared passion for speed, adrenaline, and the thrill of the race. 

    “From the roar of the engines on the track to the echo of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ soaring through the stands, the Daytona 500 is a timeless tribute to the speed, strength, and unyielding spirit that make America great. That spirit is what will fuel America’s Golden Age, and if we harness it, the future is truly ours.”

    Donald Trump on the tarmac

    President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Daytona Beach International Airport, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, en route to NASCAR’s Daytona 500. (Pool via AP)

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    The president was joined at the track by Eric Trump, Luke Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, John Paul Duffy, Patrick Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Kathryn Burgum, Sens. Todd Young and Ashley Moody, and Reps. Jason Smith, Byron Donalds and Mike Haridopolos.

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  • NASCAR fans cheer as Trump arrives for Daytona 500 in Air Force One

    NASCAR fans cheer as Trump arrives for Daytona 500 in Air Force One

    President Donald Trump received cheers from the crowd at Daytona International Speedway as Air Force One landed at the airport ahead of his arrival for the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

    The president’s plane flew over the speedway before it landed at Daytona International Airport. Cheers from the crowd were heard on the FOX broadcast as the pre-race hosts talked to Chase Elliott. NASCAR fans and drivers watched as the plane flew over the track.

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    President Donald Trump departs the White House on Feb. 14, 2025. Trump is attending the Daytona 500 this weekend. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

    Trump released a statement ahead of landing at the airport. He will be the first sitting president to attend two Daytona 500 races at Daytona International Speedway. He attended the race the first time in February 2020.

    “This iconic race showcases the fastest, most fearless drivers in motorsports, who represent our Nation’s love of tradition, competition, and automotive innovation,” the statement read. “The Daytona 500 brings together people from all walks of life—from lifelong racing fans to first-time spectators—they all join in celebrating a shared passion for speed, adrenaline, and the thrill of the race. 

    “From the roar of the engines on the track to the echo of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ soaring through the stands, the Daytona 500 is a timeless tribute to the speed, strength, and unyielding spirit that make America great. That spirit is what will fuel America’s Golden Age, and if we harness it, the future is truly ours.”

    Air Force One lands

    Air Force One with President Donald Trump on board flies over the scoring tower at the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

    WHO ARE THE 10 GREATEST DAYTONA 500 DRIVERS OF ALL TIME?

    Trump also thanked U.S. military members for their service.

    “Since the very beginning, NASCAR has carried forth a proud tradition of honoring our heroic Service members for their unwavering courage,” the statement added. “While fans from around the world gather today at Daytona International Speedway, we extend our unending gratitude to the selfless men and women in uniform who risk their lives to keep us safe. When the engines start or the checkered flag waves, and all 500 thrilling miles in between, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Guardians stand ready to defend cherished traditions like this—and for that, we are truly thankful.

    “Melania and I send our best wishes for a safe and successful race. May God bless our Armed Forces, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.”

    Trump heads to Air Force One

    President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, en route to NASCAR’s Daytona 500. (Pool Photo via AP)

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    Trump was at Super Bowl LIX for the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl.

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  • Trump expected to attend NASCAR’s Daytona 500 after Super Bowl LIX appearance

    Trump expected to attend NASCAR’s Daytona 500 after Super Bowl LIX appearance

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    President Donald Trump was at Super Bowl LIX last weekend to see the Philadelphia Eagles clobber the Kansas City Chiefs, and on Sunday, he is expected to attend NASCAR’s Super Bowl – the Daytona 500.

    “The Great American Race” is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX at Daytona International Speedway, which kicks off the 2025 NASCAR season.

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    President Donald Trump speaks before the start of the NASCAR Daytona 500 in Florida, Feb. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

    It’s the second time Trump is attending the race. He was there in 2020, and given the honor of being the grand marshal of the event as he ran for president. He said then on Fox News that he liked NASCAR because of the bravery of drivers pursuing “pure American glory.”

    He said the Daytona 500 is a “legendary display of roaring engines, soaring spirits and the American skill, speed and power that we’ve been hearing about for so many years. The tens of thousands of patriots here today have come for the fast cars and the world-class motorsports. But NASCAR fans never forget that no matter who wins the race, what matters most is God, family and country.”

    KYLE LARSON IS ON A TEAR IN 2025. CAN HE KEEP IT GOING WITH A DAYTONA 500 WIN?

    Bubba Wallace drives

    Bubba Wallace drives during a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

    NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, who got into a spat with Trump during the 2020 season, was asked during the week about the possibility of the president attending the race. He said he “couldn’t care less” if Trump showed up or not. 

    “We’re here to race. Not for the show,” Wallace added.

    Chase Briscoe is on the pole for the race with Austin Cindric next to him on the front row. Wallace is in third.

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    Kyle Larson in the pits

    Kyle Larson waits while his crew makes adjustments to his car during a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

    Defending NASCAR champion Joey Logano qualified 10th.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. describes learning to ’embrace’ Daytona after father’s death there

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. describes learning to ’embrace’ Daytona after father’s death there

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been through it all at Daytona International Speedway.

    The 50-year-old was twice a winner in the Daytona 500, the race his father won seven times and where the elder Earnhardt was killed in a crash.

    As a team owner of JR Motorsports, Dale Jr. saw Justin Allgaier qualify for the “Great American Race.”

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    NASCAR team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Peter Casey/Imagn Images)

    Holding back tears after Allgaier qualified at the track, Dale Jr. said he could not “believe that we get to race on Sunday.”

    Earnhardt Jr. has been back to Daytona International numerous times since his father Dale was killed after crashing on the final lap of the 2001 race. It’s safe to assume it was not easy for him to return.

    However, Dale Jr. said Thursday night that following in his father’s footsteps, he needed to learn to be OK with returning.

    He did that and more. Although, he did joke that he needs “a psychiatrist” to describe his emotions.

    Dale Earnhardt photo

    Dale Earnhardt (David Taylor/Allsport)

    “Daddy loved Daytona,” Earnhardt said. “Loved winning here. Just loved to win any race here. He loved to add to that number whatever it was (34). Gosh, I loved coming here as a kid. Just a lot of great memories. So, when he passed away, I had to make a decision. I had a career in front of me, and I was coming back multiple times. I had to figure out a way to be OK with it.

    “I knew that it wasn’t the track that took him. I knew that, wherever he was, he still felt the same about Daytona. So, I’ve embraced it. Him losing his life in this property brought this property closer to me. That doesn’t work the same with other people and tragedy, but, for me, knowing I had to keep coming here, I made some peace with it, embraced the track and loved it.”

    Allgaier won his first Xfinity title last season. He finished second in 2020 and 2023 and has blossomed into one of the most popular drivers during his 14 seasons on the Xfinity series.

    Earnhardt won two Daytona 500s, in 2004 and 2014, and 26 races overall. But he never won a Cup championship or came close to matching the achievements of his late Hall of Fame father, who won seven titles and was known as “The Intimidator.”

    Dale Jr in July 2022

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. before the Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in Indianapolis July 31, 2022. (Marc Lebryk/USA Today Sports)

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    Now, he’s going for his first as a team owner.

    “We get to push a car on the grid Sunday for the first time ever,” Earnhardt said, “in the biggest, most important race that I’ve ever known. And I can’t wait.”

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  • NASCAR star Bubba Wallace responds to Trump possibly attending Daytona 500 after past feud

    NASCAR star Bubba Wallace responds to Trump possibly attending Daytona 500 after past feud

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    President Donald Trump is rumored to be attending this year’s Daytona 500 on Feb. 16. If he shows up, he will be there to watch a driver he has a spotty history with. 

    Bubba Wallace, who drives the McDonald’s car for Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team 23XI Racing, engaged in a public feud with Trump in 2020. 

    In July 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the George Floyd riots, Wallace made multiple posts on X, then known as Twitter, condemning Trump for promoting hate. 

    Trump himself attacked Wallace on social media over the driver calling for a ban on confederate flags at races and alleged that an investigation into a noose being found in his garage was a “hoax.” An FBI investigation found that the noose had been in the garage stall since October 2019, and no crime had been committed. 

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    Bubba Wallace, #43, wears a “I Can’t Breathe, Black Lives Matter” shirt before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, June 7, 2020 in Hampton, Georgia. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

    Later that year, Wallace alleged that he had been told he was “bringing politics into NASCAR,” in response to his condemnation of Trump. However, in 2024, Wallace made no political posts to speak of. Wallace previously told Fox News Digital why. 

    “Investing my time into that seems like a waste of time,” Wallace said at the time. “I was definitely more vocal then because our sport was in desperate need of change.” 

    Now, with Trump set to possibly attend the Daytona 500, Wallace feels just as indifferent as he did during the past year’s election. At the Daytona 500 media day on Wednesday, Wallace said he “couldn’t care less” if Trump showed up or not. 

    “We’re here to race. Not for the show,” Wallace added. 

    The response is in line with Wallace’s recent approach to politics. Unlike in 2020, he no longer makes any political social media posts. His feed on X is now just a curated mix of racing photos, promotional posts and photos of family. 

    NASCAR ICON RICHARD CHILDRESS DESCRIBES ‘GREAT’ RECEPTION FOR JD VANCE APPEARANCE AT NORTH CAROLINA RACE

    Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson

    Bubba Wallace, right, argues with Kyle Larson after the two crashed during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

    One of the biggest reasons Wallace abandoned that habit from 2020 is because of cultural shifts in social media during that time. Wallace said there is overwhelming “negativity” on the platforms he would use to get any messages of his beliefs out. 

    “Social media nowadays is just a way for people to hide behind a screen and voice their opinions on things they don’t really know about,” Wallace previously told Fox News Digital. 

    “It’s just too much negativity that it’s going to take years and years and years to get rid of, and we don’t have time for that,” Wallace said of the current culture of social media. “Now, with being a dad and trying to be the best that I can be here for my race team and my team here, that’s where I’m investing my energy so that’s all you can really ask for.”

    For Wallace, the impact of becoming a father has been a transformative experience for him in such a short amount of time. Since his son was born, Wallace has two top-10 finishes in the three races he has competed in. He is also looking at life through a lense he was not looking through before.  

    “You have your kid at home and a full family to provide for now, so it’s crazy to go through all that,” Wallace said. 

    Meanwhile, if Trump shows up, it will be two major sporting event appearances for the president within the span of a week. 

    Last Sunday, Trump became the first sitting president in U.S. history to attend a Super Bowl when he traveled to the Superdome in New Orleans to watch the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. 

    Trump previously served as grand marshal for the 2020 Daytona 500 and gave the command for drivers to start their engines. He also took a parade lap around the 2 1/2-mile speedway in his armored limousine, leading the 40-car field before the green flag. The presidential motorcade remained on the apron in the corners instead of taking to the high-banked turns.

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    Trump Ivanka National Security

    President Donald Trump, accompanied by Ivanka Trump, speaks before signing the National Security Presidential Memorandum to Launch the “Women’s Global Development and Prosperity” Initiative. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

    Thousands cheered, and a band played patriotic music when Air Force One flew over the famed track, a flyover that was simultaneously shown on big screens. Trump’s presence energized fans and caused huge headaches because of logistical issues at entrance points.

    Trump, with first lady Melania Trump by his side, addressed the crowd before the race and called the Daytona 500 “a legendary display of roaring engines, soaring spirits and the American skill, speed and power that we’ve been hearing about for so many years.”

    A notice from the Federal Aviation Administration posted Monday indicated that Trump was expected to attend the race, but NASCAR said Wednesday it had gotten no confirmation.

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  • NASCAR driver Ross Chastin discusses Daytona 500, Super Bowl commercial, and goals for 2025 season

    NASCAR driver Ross Chastin discusses Daytona 500, Super Bowl commercial, and goals for 2025 season

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    It is not easy to win in NASCAR, but that is not necessarily acceptable to Ross Chastain.

    Chastain has five victories to his resume, and he narrowly missed out on being the Cup Series winner in 2022, finishing in second on the season.

    However, on Feb. 16, the Daytona 500 marks a new season and a new opportunity.

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    Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Busch Light Flannel Chevrolet, is carried by his crew on stage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

    “The Daytona 500 is such a big event to kick off the season. To kick off the first points event, the walking out for the Daytona 500, the race is big, but it’s the most nerve-racking for me pre-race, because it’s the whole season,” Chastain said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. “When we’re on the pre-race stage, and we walk out, it’s the first time that the season’s starting. So much opportunity is right there in front of me, and I get to try to take it. 

    “Once I get in the car, it all goes away, I don’t see the grandstands, I don’t think about anybody else. It’s me, my car, my crew chief, and my spotter. That’s it. It’s amazing how the human mind can just block everything. Everything else goes away. And it’s only that car and every detail, every smell, every vibration, every feeling in it. It’s all that to say, at the end of the race, I’m having a Busch Light no matter what.”

    In an ideal world, Chastain would have several cold ones to celebrate a win. The driver partnered with Busch Light last year, and that has landed him an acting gig in a Super Bowl commercial this year – the commercial debuted on Wednesday’s edition of “Fox & Friends.”

    Chastain said his initial reaction when he got the nod was, “when can we film it?” However, it took him by surprise how much work actually went into it.

    Ross Chastain No. 1 car

    Ross Chastain, #1 TrackHouse Racing Busch Light Throwback Chevrolet, races into turn 2 during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 on May 11, 2024 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. (Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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    “We filmed for hours, a lot of takes. Trying to get the angle right and trying to get my ‘What’s wrong with going in circles?’ It sounds so simple to say, but they wanted it to come across a certain way,” he said. “The take they used was actually pretty early, but we did a lot more seeing what else, you know, what kind of octaves and different tones I could do it in,” he said.

    The commercial, though, is just another benefit of being a Busch Light athlete, said Chastain.

    “It’s been life-changing, really. What it’s done for Trackhouse, my team and me, it’s solidified us in the sport. This will be my fourth year going into a Trackhouse and second year with Busch Light,” he said. “It’s amazing to see what Justin Marks, our owner, what he’s built, and just how the team operates and what his vision was for Trackhouse was exactly this. It was to partner with brands that believed in the future of the sport. 

    “There can be negativity around anything, you can pick the happiest idea in the world, and somebody’s gonna have a negative view on it, so Justin has a forward-thinking mindset and does things a bit different, and Busch Light wanted to be a part of that. Justin’s a disruptor, he wants us to come inand do things a different way, and Busch Light lets us be us. They wanted to be with Trackhouse because we were different, because we weren’t what they had seen for so long in a sport.”

    Just one week after the commercial, his season will officially get underway, and Chastain has had enough of coming up short in both the big race and the season standings.

    “[The goal is] to survive 500 miles. It’s such a grueling race from an attrition standpoint; so many cars crash, we’re so close together. We always think we’re all gonna do better and not crash, but we crash. It’s what NASCAR drivers do. If you’re there at the end like we were last year – I could see the white flag and made a move to try to win and spun myself out. I’ll do that a little differently. 

    “But no, Daytona 500 is played out the same way. It’s always different. And then, once we go from there through the season, this is our fourth year with Trackhouse, my fifth year with my team, just continue to evolve. I think I’ve got the best team, so it’s all out there. When I walk out for driver introductions, it hits me, this is the opportunity to go take what we want. I’m a competitor, I want to beat all the people in this race.”

    Ross Chastain

    Ross Chastain, #1 TrackHouse Racing Busch Light Chevrolet, stands next to the Harley J Earl trophy prior to the running of the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 on Feb. 19, 2024 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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    Chastain added, “That goal of winning in the competition, it drives me. It’s why I do all this, it’s why I’m in New York today, and brands like Busch Light want to be a part of that. They want to win, as well, they want to win to consumers, sell more beer, and that’s the people I want around me.”

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